Competing in the men's under 100 kilogram final, the Russian threw former world champion Lukas Krpalek of the Czech Republic with an ippon seoi-nage for a score after 59 seconds. 

Having been chased down by his opponent, who ahead of the event said he’s still working to be in his best physical condition, Khaibulaev was penalised for going out and for a false attack, but protected his advantage to win gold.

"I feel in a very good condition and I am pleased with what I have achieved today," said the 2011 world champion Khaibulaev, who won only his second gold medal since London 2012.

“I have won Grand Slam gold for the first time having won silver in Moscow before so this means a lot to me.”

The first bronze medal was won by Germany’s Karl-Richard Frey, who defeated Iran’s Javad Mahjoub, while the second was won by Belgium’s Toma Nikiforov at the expense of Italy’s Domenico Di Guida.

Mongolia’s Otgonbaatar Lkhagvasuren also won his first Grand Slam gold medal to move towards the summit of the men's under 90kg category.

The Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix winner defeated the returning World Judo Masters bronze medallist Noel Van T End of The Netherlands who was the top seed on his comeback from injury.

Lkhagvasuren, 22, who took bronze a fortnight ago in Paris, was penalised for a false attack and then for an overly defensive posture which Van T End was also guilty of and reprimanded for.

Van T End picked up a shido for a false attack before the young Mongolian threw for ippon with a picturesque morote-seoi-nage.

The first bronze medal was awarded to Hungary’s Krisztian Toth, surpassing Serbia’s Aleksandar Kukolj before Sweden’s Marcus Nyman beat Greece’s Ilias Iliadis to the second.

In the men’s over 100kg final, former world bronze medallist Kim Sung-Min of South Korea won his star-laden team’s fourth Grand Slam gold medal in three days as he defeated world bronze medallist Iakiv Khammo of Ukraine.

Both judoka were penalised for passivity after two minutes before Kim threw his young Ukrainian foe on the edge of the area, and after Khammo bridged, the referee had no choice but to award the ippon for Kim.

The first bronze medal went to Tunisia’s Faicel Jaballah, who beat Georgia’s Levani Matiashvili, and the second was claimed by Germany’s Andre Breitbarth to the detriment of Poland’s Maciej Sarnacki.

Meanwhile in the women’s under 78kg class, The Netherlands’ Marhinde Verkerk won a battle of former world champions as she defeated London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Mayra Aguiar of Brazil in the final.

Aguiar went close to taking the lead with a de-ashi-barai attack before both judoka received two shidos apiece to move into golden score.

Verkerk reigned in added time as she was quick to apply a koshi-jime strangle on the ground and her Brazilian opponent had no other option but to tap out.

The first bronze medal was won by Verkerk’s compatriot Guusje Steenhuis with Mongolia’s Lkhamdegd Purevjargal missing out, while the second went the way of Hungary’s Abigel Joo, who overcame France’s Audrey Tcheumeo.

Tyumen Grand Slam winner Sisi Ma of China improved on her Tashkent Grand Prix silver medal from her last outing by defeating Zagreb Grand Prix silver medallist Tessie Savelkouls of The Netherlands to win the women’s over 78kg gold medal.

Savelkouls was penalised for a false attack and received a second shido, while her opponent Ma, who continues to outshine world champion and team-mate Song Yu, was penalised once for passivity.

The first bronze medal was won by France’s Emilie Andeol, defeating Marine Erb in an all-French clash, while the second went the way of Yu who edged Germany’s Jasmin Kuelbs.

South Korea finished top of the medals table with four golds, ahead of Russia, whose total haul came in at two golds, one silver and one bronze, and France, winners of two golds and two bronzes.

Judo’s elite are set to reconvene in China for the Qingdao Grand Prix from November 20 to 22.

The provisional entry list features 514 judoka from 70 nations including France’s Teddy Riner, who is in line to compete for the first time since winning his record-breaking eighth world title.

To watch the latest action on Judo TV click here.



Related stories
October 2015: Ivanov carves name into Bulgarian history after winning gold at IJF Abu Dhabi Grand Slam
October 2015: Russia's Dolgova claims maiden IJF Grand Slam title in Abu Dhabi
October 2015: World champion Smetov set to return to action at IJF Abu Dhabi Grand Slam
October 2015: Activities promoting theme of "unity" held to mark World Judo Day
October 2015: Japan sweep men's and women's team titles on final day of IJF Junior World Championships