By James Crook

Tom Reed Miami bronze medalJune 16 - Tom Reed of Great Britain was in sensational form at the International Judo Federation (IJF) Miami Grand Prix, narrowly overcoming Argentinean Emmanuel Lucenti in the final by a single yuko to claim the gold medal in the men's -81 kilogram category.

The Englishman pulled off a string of impressive performances on his way to gold, including a victory over American Joshua White, who had a vociferous home crowd behind him at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa.

The Miami Grand Prix title is Reed's first major win since taking gold at the British Championships in Sheffield 18 months ago and his first ever at IJF World Tour level.

Reed narrowly missed out on the GB squad for London 2012 after being out of action for a lengthy period of time in 2011 during the qualification period, but this win could mark the start of his road to Rio.

Bronze medals in the category went to Mauro Henrique Moura of Brazil, who successfully saw off former Asian Youth Championship bronze medallist, 17-year-old Altanbagana Gantulga of Mongolia, but the second bronze went to his team-mate Tuvshinjargal Gan, who defeated American Jonathan Fernandez.

cuba gold medallist MiamiCuba's Asley Gonzalez (in white) defeated Russia's Grigorii Sulemin in the men's -90kg final

Elsewhere, world number two Asley Gonzalez of Cuba took gold in the men's -90kg category, defeating former European silver medallist Grigorii Sulemin in the final, with bronze medals going to America's Colton Brown, who defeated Great Britain's Matthew Purssey, and Tallinn European Open winner Ciril Grossklaus, who defeated Chilean former Rio Grand Slam bronze medallist Thomas Briceno.

Former Asian champion Soo-Whan Kim of South Korea impressed in the men's +100kg, pulling off an uchi-mata for a superb ippon to defeat World Judo Masters bronze medallist Renat Saidov of Russia in the final to get his hands on the gold medal.

Brazilian Walter Santos took the first bronze in the division with an impressive attacking display against Oscar Brayson of Cuba when he had two shido penalties to his name with just 13 seconds remaining, before sweeping his opponent with an okuri-ashi-barai for ippon to claim victory.

The other bronze medal went to Mongolian national champion Sugarjargal Boldpurev, who overcame Samsun Grand Prix winner Magomed Nazhmudinov of Russia, when his opponent received a fourth shido to lose by hansoku-make.

There was gold in the -100kg for former European bronze medallist Zafar Makhmadov, who stopped Hugo Pessanha of Brazil, reaching for an osoto-gari for a waza-ari as the clock ticked down to the final seconds.

In the women's events, Iljana Marzok of Germany took gold after defeating Pan-American silver medallist Onix Cortes Aldama in the -70kg final, whilst Puerto Rican former Caribbean champion Maria Perez took a bronze after claiming victory against European under-23 Championship bronze medallist Margarita Gurtsieva of Russia.

The other bronze went to Japan's Haruka Tachimoto, who defeated Yuri Alvear of Colombia, before her elder sister Megumi ensured a momentous day in the Tachimoto household as she took gold in the +78kg, defeating former Russian national silver medallist Mariia Shekerova by holding her down for waza-ari and claiming victory by waza-ari-awasette-ippon.

Tachimoto Miami gold medalMegumi Tachimoto topped her sister's earlier bronze medal by winning gold in the women's +78kg

Reigning Olympic champion Idalys Ortiz took the second bronze medal in the category following victory against Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Carolin Weiss of Germany, after France's Emilie Andeol secured the first with a win over former Rio Grand Slam winner Vanessa Zambotti of Mexico.

There was also gold for France in the women's -78kg as world champion Audrey Tcheumeo overcame Luise Malzahn of Germany, whilst Britain's Natalie Powell took bronze with an impressive performance against veteran Pan American bronze medallist Keivi Pinto of Venezuela, and Montevideo Pan American Open winner Samantha Bleier failed to take advantage of her home crowd behind her as she was defeated by Anastasiya Dmitrieva in the other bronze medal bout.

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