A powerful Japanese squad won more than double the medals of the next-best country to dominate the 2018 IJF Masters tournament, held in Guangzhou (CHN).
In all, Japan tallied seven golds, three silvers and four bronze medals for a total of 14. Next best were Russia with six (1-1-4) and Georgia with five (2-1-2). Japan’s edge came from the women’s classes, where they won five of seven divisions and won gold, silver and a bronze medal in the -78 kg weight class by Mami Umeki, Ruika Sato, and Shori Hamada.
Several of the 2018 World Champions doubled back with wins in the Masters, including Nikoloz Sherazadishvili (ESP) at -90 kg; Varlam Liparteliani (GEO) at -100 kg and Guram Tushishvili (GEO) at +100 kg among the men and Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA) in the women’s -63 kg class.
Prize money at the Masters was $9,000-6,000-3,000 for the top three places (two thirds), with 20% reserved for coaches. Summaries:
IJF Masters
Guangzhou (CHN) ~ 15-16 December 2018
(Full results here)
Men
-60 kg: 1. Robert Mshvidobadze (RUS); 2. Amiran Papinashvili (GEO); 3. Amartuvshin Dashdavaa (MGL) and Yeldos Smetov (KAZ).
-66 kg: 1. Joshiro Maruyama (JPN); 2. Baruch Shmailov (ISR); 3. Altansukh Dovdon (MGL) and Vazha Margvelashvili (GEO).
-73 kg: 1. Rustam Orujov (AZE); 2. Arthur Margelidon (CAN); 3. Changrim An (KOR) and Lasha Shavdatuashvili (GEO).
-81 kg: 1. Takeshi Sasaki (JPN); 2. Aslan Lippinagov (RUS); 3. Vedat Albayrak (TUR) and Frank de Wit (NED).
-90 kg: 1. Nikoloz Sherazadishvili (ESP); 2. Krisztian Toth (HUN); 3. Islam Bozbayev (KAZ) and Mikhail Igolinkov (RUS).
-100 kg: 1. Varlam Liparteliani (GEO); 2. Otgonbaatar Lkhagvasuren (MGL); 3. Kentaro Ilda (JPN) and Ramadan Darwish (EGY).
+100 kg: 1. Guram Tushishvili (GEO); 2. Rafael Silva (BRA); 3. David Moura (BRA) and Tamerlan Bashaev (RUS).
Women
-48 kg: 1. Distria Krasniqi (KOS); 2. Ami Kondo (JPN); 3. Irina Dolgova (RUS) and Marusa Stangar (SLO).
-52 kg: 1. Natsumi Tsunoda (JPN); 2. Amandine Buchard (FRA); 3. Natalia Kuziutina (RUS) and Charline van Snick (BEL).
-57 kg: 1. Tsukasa Yoshida (JPN); 2. Nora Gjakova (KOS); 3. Jessica Klimkait (CAN) and Momo Tamaoki (JPN).
-63 kg: 1. Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA); 2. Nami Nabekura (JPN); 3. Tina Trstenjak (SLO) and Miku Tashiro (JPN).
-70 kg: 1. Saki Niizoe (JPN); 2. Yuri Alvear (COL); 3. Sanne van Dijke (NED) and Michaela PollEres (AUT).
-78 kg: 1. Mami Umeki (JPN); 2. Ruika Sato (JPN); 3. Shori Hamada (JPN) and Natalie Powell (GBR).
+78 kg: 1. Akira Sone (JPN); 2. Idalys Ortiz (CUB); 3. Maria Suelen Altheman (BRA) and Larisa Ceric (BIH).
