Prior to the action getting underway at the Tyumen Athletic Centre, a letter from Russian Judo Federation President Vasily Anisimov was read out by the organisation's executive director Valentin Khabirov.

"Dear friends, I am glad to welcome you in Russia, Tyumen, for the first Grand Slam in the history of this city," read the letter.

"Tyumen is well known to all judo fans around the world and was the host city for the European Under-23 Championships and Open World Championships, also the elite World Masters and ECCO Team Challenge in January which featured Europe against Asia.

"Tyumen people love and understand judo as it is one of the most sporting cities in our country.

"We are glad that the Grand Slam tournament will be held here in the next two years with the participation of the world's elite judoka.

"We have no doubt that Tyumen's tournament will have an excellent impact for the next generation of Russian judoka."

Former world champion Misato Nakamura was the first to get the Japanese gold medal trail rolling by upsetting home favourite Yulia Ryzhova in the women's under 52 kilogram category, while bronze medals went to Erika Miranda of Brazil and Romania's Andreea Chitu.

Kane Abe upset the home crowd by defeating Ekaterina Valkova in the final of the women's under 63kg ©IJF



Kana Abe was the second Japanese woman to claim gold and again it was by overcoming a Russian.

This time it was European Open bronze medallist Ekaterina Valkova who was the victim, going down to a uchi-mata earned ippon after 22 seconds in the under 63kg final.

Vlakova's compatriot Pari Surakatova and Hilde Drexler of Austria took the bronze.

Japan's final gold medal of the day came in the men's under 60kg class as Shinji Kido triumphed after his Brazilian opponent, Olympic bronze medallist Felipe Kitadai, earned three shido penalties.

Bronze went to Kido's compatriot Yuma Oshima and Robert Mshvidobadze of Russia.

Brazil arrived in Tyumen with a strong squad and two of its number registered gold medal wins today in the form of reigning Olympic champion Sarah Menezes and world number one Charles Chibana.

Menezes lived up her tag as pre-tournament favourite by dominating the women's under 48kg competition throughout, before despatching her Japanese opponent Emi Yamagishi with an okuri-ashi-barai for ippon after just 32 seconds in the final.

Italian Valentina Moscatt and Taciana Lima-Balde of Guinea-Bissau claimed the bronze medals.

Chibana produced the most spectacular moment of the day as he secured gold in the men's under 66kg category by lifting Jeju Grand Prix winner Yuhei Rokugo of Japan up and over with a jaw-dropping ura-nage for ippon.

Compatriot Masaaki Fukuoka and Russian Anzaur Ardanov secured the minor medals.

The home crowd in Tyumen finally had a victory to cheer when Denis Iartcev emerged the winner in the last men's final of the day.

The 23-year-old won a scrappy contest on shido penalties against Pan American Open winner Marcelo Contini of Brazil in the under 73kg category.

Denis Iartcev (left) was the only home athlete to win gold on the first day of action in Tyumen ©IJF




Alex-William Pombo Da Silva and Uali Kurzhev kept the medal count ticking over for Brazil and Russia respectively by taking the bronze.

Junior World Championships silver medallist Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard came out on top in her all-North American clash with Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist Marti Malloy.

The 20-year-old Canadian secured the biggest win of her career against her more experienced opponent from the United States in the women's under 57kg final.

Sabrina Filzmoser of Austria and Romanian Loredana Ohai won the bronze medal bouts.

The final seven weight categories are up for decision tomorrow.