Humo Arena hosts this year’s Grand Slam with a rowdy crowd in attendance from the very first moment.

In the under 48 kilo class, individual neutral athlete Sabina GILIAZOVA defeated Kazakhstan’s Abiba ABUZHAKYNOVA with a golden score, both were looking for victory but Giliazova expertly managed her opponent for ippon.

Harvest Group CEO Almaz ALSENOV was there to award the medals

There was anticipation in the air for the home fans as home fighter Doston RUZIEV made his first World Judo Tour final appearance in the under 60kg category. There he met Georgian Giorgi SARDALASHVILI but the roar of the crowd did him good as he tried his luck on the ground work and then scored the pin for the win!

His medal was presented by Adkham IKRAMOV, Minister of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Doston Ruziev said, “First of all, I would like to thank all our supporters who are here today.” “It helped me a lot! We will do our best to meet the expectations of the Uzbek nation by continuing to win gold medals in the future!”

As the crowd roared once again for the -52kg final as the surprise package, 20-year-old home fighter Gulkhayo JURAEVA was ready to claim her first WJT medal after blitzing her way into the gold medal competition. But experienced French judoka Amandine BUCHARD showed her experience in breaking through a close fight and pushing her opponent aside to claim the title.

Their medals were presented by Uzbekistan NOC Secretary General Oybek KASIMOV.

“This is my second time going to Tashkent,” said Amandine Buchard. “The first one was for the World Championships and I really love the people here because they live judo. And whenever they see good judo they scream and you know, I love that kind of feeling and I really love fighting here in Tashkent!

Nurali EMOMALI came first in the under 66 kilo category.

After fighting back for an early waza-ari, Baruch won by SHMAILOV being disqualified for failing to engage!

The medals were given by Ismoil MAHMADZOIR, President of the Tajikistan Judo Federation.

And the age-old judo rivalry saw France’s Priscilla GNETO beat Japan’s Haruka FUNAKUBO in the under 57kg category.

He was awarded the gold medal by IJF Chief Referee Director Armen BAGDASAROV.

Besides the medals, the local judoka put on a spectacular judo show and thrilled the passionate support with a spectacular ippon judo! We’ll be back for more action in Tashkent on Saturday.