Kanae Yamabe started the Japanese success as she won the women's over 78 kilograms category thanks to a victory by ippon over Tunisia's Nihel Cheikh Rohou, while Germany took both bronzes as Carolin Weiss and Franziska Konitz beat Ukranian pair Iryna Kindzerska and Svitlana Iaromka respectively.

In the men's under 100kg division, Ryunosuke Haga, who has won Grand Prix bronze and silver in the past, finally got his hands on gold when he immobilised his Egyptian opponent Ramadan Darwish before bagging an ippon to seal a deserved triumph.

Frenchman Cyrille Maret would have been disappointed not to be competing for the top spot on the podium as he had to settle for bronze, as did two-time Olympic Games bronze medallist Henk Grol of the Netherlands.

A Japanese winner was guaranteed in the last event of the Grand Prix as Ryu Shichinohe reigned supreme in the men's heavyweight over 100kg division with a win against team mate Takeshi Ojitani.

Shichinohe's victory could see him provide the sternest test to Frenchman Teddy Riner, who won Olympic gold at London 2012 and has been world champion on no fewer than seven occasions, when the Games go to Rio next year.

Japan's Ryunosuke Haga ended his long wait for Grand Prix gold as he won the men's under 100kg division ©IJF



Germany's Sven Heinle took one of the available bronze medals to ensure the host nation finished with a bang, and the other went to Israel's Or Sasson.

Reigning Olympic champion Kayla Harrison of the United States continued her dominance of the women's under 78 kilograms category with victory as she beat second seed Anamari Velensek of Slovenia in a tense final to ensure she remained on top of the division.

Hungary's Abigail Jook took the first bronze medal by virtue of a victory over Guusje Steenhuis of The Netherlands, while Ruika Sato maintained the excellent Japanese haul by ousting Poland's Daria Pogorzelec in the other third-placed contest.

During the last day of what has been a fascinating Grand Prix, a minute's silence was observed for Dutch double Olympic gold medallist Wim Ruska, who passed away aged 74 last week.

Kanae Yamabe got Japan off to the best possible start as she won the women's under 78kg category with victory over Nihel Cheikh Rouhou of Tunisia ©IJF



Ruska would have been delighted with the standard of judo displayed in Düsseldorf, and it proved to be largely a good day for the top ranked judokas as Georgian star Varlam Liparteliani reigned supreme in the men's under 90 kg category.

He beat world number 120 Kazbek Zankishiev of Russia with an ippon in the final, while compatriot Beka Gviniashvili took bronze alongside South Korea's Dong Han Gwak.

The next stop on the Grand Prix tour is the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, and that event runs from March 20 to 22.

Watch the latest action on Judo TV here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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