Luka Maisuradze roars with delight after winning the men's under-90kg title in Doha ©Getty Images

Luka Maisuradze defeated Lasha Bekauri in the first all-Georgian final to win the men’s under-90 kilogram crown at the World Judo Championships here, while Saki Niizoe ensured Japan tasted more success with women’s under-70kg gold.

Bekauri was aiming to add a world title to his Olympic and European golds but those hopes were dashed by Maisuradze who snatched victory in golden score at the Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena in Qatari capital Doha.

It was the first-ever meeting between two Georgians in a world final and it proved to be a tense tussle that put their fans firmly on the edge of their seats.

Bekauri had the upperhand in the contest, forcing Maisuradze to pick up a second shido in golden score, and he appeared to be closing in on victory.

After two minutes of golden score, Bekausi went for an osoto gari only for Maisuradze to perform a brilliant counter attack, sweeping him from behind to send him crashing for the waza-ari in stunning fashion.

Luka Maisuradze was involved in a tense tussle with fellow Georgian Lasha Bekauri ©Getty Images
Luka Maisuradze was involved in a tense tussle with fellow Georgian Lasha Bekauri ©Getty Images

It was Maisurade’s first world title, adding to his two bronze medals achieved in 2019 and 2022 and his European gold.

The victory will also boost Maisurade’s hopes of beating Bekausi to a place in Georgia’s team for next year’s Olympics in Paris.

Sweden’s Marcus Nyman also left Italy’s Christian Parlati stunned when he snatched the bronze medal.

Parlati threw everything at Nyman but was unable to score a point as the Swede secured victory with two waza-aris that came against the run of play.

The other bronze-medal contest was a survival of the fittest which was won by Japanese top seed Sanshiro Murao after scoring a waza-ari with an osoto gari to topple Cuba's Ivan Felipe Silva Morales in golden score.

Saki Niizoe sealed Japan's fourth gold in Doha with victory in the women’s under-70kg final ©Getty Images
Saki Niizoe sealed Japan's fourth gold in Doha with victory in the women’s under-70kg final ©Getty Images

While Georgia celebrated two medals, Japan earned a fourth gold at this tournament courtesy of Niizeo’s victory today.

Niizeo proved too strong for Germany’s Giovanna Scoccimarro, picking up a waza-ari with an uchi mata before pinning her down for another score to seal a comprehensive win.

She now joins Hifumi Ube, Natsumi Tsunoda and Uta Abe as gold medallists in Doha, increasing Japan’s lead at the top of the medal standings.

Barbara Matić’s hopes of a third successive world title were ended by Niizeo in the semi-finals but the Croatian bounced back to clinch bronze after beating Venezuela’s Elvismar Rodriquez.

The other bronze-medal match saw Austria's Michaela Polleres triumph, leaving Britain's Katie-Jemima Yeats-Brown needing medical attention.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow, with the men’s under-100kg and women’s under-78kg categories set to be contested.