Kanae Yamabe, who finished runner-up in the over 78 kilogram class on home soil last December, finished one better in Paris, disappointing a sell-out French crown by toppling local favourite Emilie Andeol with an otsi-gari for ippon.

The win marks a first Grand Slam gold medal for the Japanese athlete and will have been made all the sweeter after she shocked the crowd, and probably herself, after overcoming Brazil's world silver medallist Maria Suelen Altheman in the build-up to the final.

Olympic and world champion Idalys Ortiz of Cuba was left to settle for bronze after beating Althenman in a repeat of the World Championship final last year, while Slovakia's European champion Lucija Polavder secured the second bronze medal with a win over Great Britain's Sarah Adlington.

Ryu Shichinohe ensured Japan continued their dominance at the Paris Grand Slam with victory in the men's 100kg weight category ©IJF


In the men's heavyweight category (over 100kg), All Japan judo champion Ryu Shichinohe recorded his best result in a Grand slam event by dispatching Brazil's David Moura by uchi-mata just 13 seconds into the final.

In one of just two weight categories not to feature a host judoka on the podium, it was Tunisia's world bronze medallist Faicel Jaballah and Russia's World Judo Masters champion Renat Saidov who walked off with the two bronze medals after victory over Germany's Andre Breitbarth and Cuba's Oscar Brayson respectively.

The opening contest of the second and final day in Paris saw Dutch judoka, and former Tokyo Grand Slam winner, Linda Bolder, silence the emphatic home support as she triumphed over French hope Fanny Estelle Posvite to ensure the Netherlands won the under 70kg category for the second successive year.

The European silver medallist felled the local favourite in just 16 seconds to open the Dutch gold medal account and force France to settle for one of many silver medals on their home tatami.

The women's under 78kg final proved almost as short as the first, with Slovakia's Rijeka Grand Prix winner Anamari Velensek ensuring 20-year-old Madeline Malonga suffered the same fate as her lighter compatriot, after the Slovak ended proceedings in just 28 seconds to get her season off to the best possible start.

Slovakia's Anamari Velensek triumphed over French judoka Madeline Malonga in just 28 seconds to secure gold in the women's -78kg category ©IJF



Dutch former world champion Marhinde Verker added to her nation's growing medal tally with victory over team-mate Guusje Steenhuis in the first bronze medal match, before former world champion Audrey Tcheumeo had the home crowd on their feet with a win over China's Xin Li in the second.

The men's under 81kg category saw another French judoka fall at the final hurdle as world champion Loic Pietri was bested by Georgian Avtandili Tchrikishvili in a repeat of the World Championship final in Rio last year.

Tokyo Grand Slam winner Nagase Takanori continued his fine run of form to narrowly beat Canada's Olympic bronze medallist Antoine Valois-Fortier in the first bronze medal final, with the Japanese athlete winning by just a solitary yuko to secure another medal for the leading nation.

The second bronze medal was won by Korea's Jae-Bum Kim as he overcame defending Paris Grand Slam champion Jakhyo Imamov of Uzbekistan.

The under 90kg gold was awarded to Korea's Kyu-won Lee, who took the medal uncontested after Georgia's Varlam Liparteliani was forced to withdraw from the final due to injury.

The first bronze medal was picked up by Germany's Marc Odenthal following the Qingdao Grand Prix bronze medallists' victory over Russia's Khusen Khalmurzaev, with the second falling into the hands of Japan's Masyu Beiker after his win over Korea's Dong Hang Gwak.

Cyrille Maret overcame Czech opponent Lukas Krpalek in the men's under 100kg final to secure a first gold medal of the Grand Slam for hosts France ©IJF


The French crowd was finally given a reason to cheer in the men's under 100kg final, when World Judo Masters bronze medallist Cyrille Maret clinched victory in the dying seconds against Czech opponent Lukas Krpalek to seal the host's first gold medal of the Grand Slam and ensure the place behind Japan on the overall medal table.

Maxime Clement was unable to replicate his compatriot's result in the first bronze final, as the Casablanca African Open winner bowed out on shido penalties to the Netherlands double Olympic bronze medallist Henk Grol, before Russia's Qingdao Grand Prix bronze medallist Adlan Bisultanov beat Germany's Dimitri Peters to secure the second bronze medal.

The 2014 IJF World Judo Tour now moves on to Germany as competitors get ready to compete in the Dusseldorf Grand Prix from February 21–23.

To watch the latest action on Judo TV click here

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
February 2014: Japan lead the medal table after day one of Judo Grand Slam in Paris
February 2014: Judo Grand Slam season gets underway with opening event in Paris
February 2014: Judoka travel to France ahead of Paris Grand Slam