Majlinda Kelmendi successfully retained her under-52 kilogram title while Japan's Masashi Ebinuma won his third World Championships gold medal. 

Kelmendi, a 23-year-old Kosovan competing under the flag of the International Judo Federation (IJF) because her own country is still battling to be recognised by the worldwide community, beat Romania's Andreea Chitu whom she outscored from the start on her way to a convincing victory.

It means that, since her tearful exit in the first round Olympics at London two years ago - captured so emotionally in Caroline Rowland's brilliant film First - when she was forced by the International Olympic Committee to compete for Albania, she has lifted three major titles. 

She won the gold medal at the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro last year and then claimed the European title in Montpellier earlier this season.

Kelmendi put her head in her hands when she was awarded the contest by the referee and momentarily laid down on the tatami as she cherished every second of her victory which will only cement her very special place in the Kosovo history, already secure having last year become the first athlete from the fledging country to win a world title in any sport.

Majlinda Kelmendi (second left) after receiving her second World Championships gold medal from International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer ©IJF

Marius Vizer, President of the IJF, who has been among Kelmendi and Kosovo judo's biggest supporters, also honoured his pledge to her and awarded her the gold medal. 

"I know that everybody was following me live in my home country," said Kelmendi.

"They must be so happy now.

"Tonight I really want to thank the IJF President, who has been supporting me for many years.

"He promised me he would do the medal ceremony if won."

Earlier, Kelmendi had dashed Russian hopes when she beat Natalia Kuziutina in the semi-final, a contest she claimed was harder than the final. 

"The match against Natalia Kuziutina was the most difficult today," she said.

"Now I will have one week off and I am planning to continue training to be ready for the Olympic Games."

For 26-year-old Chitu it was her second World Championships medal, having claimed bronze at Paris in 2011. 

Any disappointment at failing to land the title seemed to soon evaporate.

"Chelyabinsk is my lucky city," said Chitu.

"Two years ago I won the gold medal at the European Championships and now I am a world silver medallist.

"I like being here."

The first bronze medal was won by Brazil's Erika Miranda, beaten in last year's final in Rio de Janeiro by Kelmendi. 

She washed away her semi-final upset, when she had been beaten by Chitu, by defeating Cuba's Yanet Bermoy Acosta courtesy of receiving fewer penalties than her opponent. 

Kuziutina also bounced back from her defeat by beating China's Yingnan Ma for her best result of her career.

"I made just one small mistake and lost," said Kuziutina of her defeat to Kelmendi.

"But I brought my country a medal, and that's great."

But the gold that the Russian fans who are packing out this Arena - and creating such a memorable atmosphere - so crave will continue for at least another day after Ebinuma beat home favourite Mikhail Pulyaev in the final. 

    Masashi Ebinuma became only the third Japanese judoka to win three world titles when he                   beat Russia's Mikhail Pulyaev in the final of the under-66kg category ©IJF

At just 24-years-old Ebinuma is already in a class of his own and defeated his Russian opponent by ippon to secure his third consecutive world title.

The stunning victory for saw him become part of an elite band of Japanese judoka who have won three world titles, joining  Toshihiko Koga and Kosei Inoue, now Japan's head coach.

Ebinuma claimed some last minute revision had helped him after watching team-mate Naohisa Takato, who had surrendered his two-year unbeaten record yesterday when he was defeated in the semi-final of the under-60kg category to Russia's Beslan Mudranov. 

"I was nervous at the beginning but this feeling helped me to win," said Ebinuma. 

"Yesterday I saw how Russians fight and it helped me a lot."

The 24-year-old is now targeting Olympic glory in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

London 2012 was the only real blemish on his career in his recent years.

There he had to settle for the bronze in controversial fashion when an ippon against him by Poland's Paweł Zagrodnik in the playoff was downgraded to a waza-ari, allowing him to come back to win.

"I felt good, very happy to win and I will strive to build on the success at the Olympics," said Ebinuma. 

The first bronze medal was won by Russia's Kamal Khan-Magomedov, who had the home crowd on their feet again when he beat France's Loic Korval with a yuko score.

The second bronze medal was won by Ukraine's Georgii Zantaraia, who defeated Japan's Kengo Takaichi who lost out on bronze after being penalized for not taking a grip.

International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer, pictured here with Boris Dubrokovsky (left), Acting Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region, and Sergey Solovychik (right), head of the European Judo Union, has hailed the early impact of the World Championships ©IJF

Vizer is revelling in the success of these Championships so far.

"In my opinion we have seen one of the best starts to a World Championships and Monday's Opening Ceremony was the best ever for our sport," he said. 

"We have not just a sporting event taking place here but also an educational event as judo has the highest values in sport and all the athletes give value to our event.

"It is very important for the values to be transferred to society from sport.

"This event is being broadcast in around 150 countries worldwide so the impact is everywhere."

Watch the latest action on Judo TV here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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