Japan's Miku Tashiro defended her World Judo Masters title ©IJF

Japan’s Miku Tashiro successfully defended her International Judo Federation (IJF) World Judo Masters title at the Lopez Mateo Sports Centre in Guadalajara, as she builds towards her Olympic debut at Rio 2016.

The 22-year-old met Juul Franssen in the women’s under 63 kilogram gold medal contest and achieved a waza-ari score to take control of the bout, having been foiled by her Dutch opponent in the early stages.

Tashiro, a two-time World Championship bronze medallist, was able to keep her rival at arm’s length in the closing minutes to hold on to her advantage to seal gold.

China’s Junxia Yang claimed the first bronze medal in the weight division by securing an ippon win over Kathrin Unterwurzacher, having trailed earlier in the contest with the Austrian having achieved an early waza-ari score.

The podium was completed by The Netherlands’ Anicka Van Emden, who defeated Mongolia’s Tsend-Ayush Tserennadmid on shido penalties at the end of a tightly fought contest.

Japanese success continued in the men’s competitions, with Soichi Hashimoto overcoming Mongolia’s Odbayar Ganbaatar with a juji-gatame technique.

Although the 24-year-old triumphed in the invite-only competition, which sees the top 16 ranked competitors in each category compete, he will not be at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games due to world champion Shohei Ono being the chosen Japanese judoka.

Azerbaijan’s European champion Rustam Orujov claimed the first bronze uncontested due to South Korea’s An Changrim being unable to compete due to injury, while Russia’s Denis Iartcev earned an ippon win over Israel’s Sagi Muki in the second bout.

Travis Stevens triumph in the men's under 81kg event to secure seeding at Rio 2016
Travis Stevens triumph in the men's under 81kg event to secure seeding at Rio 2016 ©IJF

The second men’s title of the day was earned by the United States’ Travis Stevens, with the Toronto 2015 Pan American Championships silver medallist overcoming Belgium’s Joachim Bottieau by a yuko in the under 81kg final.

Stevens’ victory ensured him of being seeded at Rio 2016 as he targets the first Olympic medal of his career.

Greece’s Roman Moustopoulos earned a shido penalty win over Russia’s Alan Khubetsov to earn a podium spot, while Egypt’s Mohamed Abdelaal powered to an ippon victory against Dagvasuren Nyamsuren of Mongolia to win the second bronze.

World number one Kim Polling confirmed her status as the favourite for the women’s under 70kg gold in Rio, after the Dutchwoman earned an ippon triumph over Austria’s Bernadette Graf.

South Korea’s Kim Seongyeon narrowly beat Britain’s Sally Conway with a waza-ari to secure the first bronze, while three-time world champion Yuri Alvear of Colombia defeated Mongolia’s Naranjargal Tsend Ayush with an ippon.

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