Judo Grand Slam in Baku gets underway on day one
The rise of young Swede, Tara Babulfath, a first year junior and just 18 years old, was impossible to ignore. Her gold medal in Baku was nothing less than staggering.
Transcript
00:00 As the journey to this summer's Olympic Games continues to pick up pace, the international
00:05 judo family was once again welcomed back to Azerbaijan for the 10th edition of the Baku
00:10 Grand Slam.
00:12 The event was opened by Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, Mariana Vassileva,
00:18 Rashad Abiyev, President of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation and the President of the International
00:23 Judo Federation, Marius Vizier.
00:26 After a stellar day, including this Osotogari, current world number one and reigning world
00:31 champion, Krista Deguchi took the Baku title at 57 kilograms.
00:36 She was awarded the gold medal by President of the International Judo Federation, Marius
00:41 Vizier.
00:42 At under 60 kilograms, Ramazan Adubalev was delighted to maintain his title from last
00:48 year's Baku Grand Slam as he edged a tight battle in the final against current European
00:53 champion, Luka Mikheyev.
00:55 He was awarded his medal by Azar Aliev, General Secretary of the National Olympic Committee
01:00 of Azerbaijan.
01:01 At under 48 kilograms, it was youth versus experience as Sweden's rising star, Tara
01:06 Babalfat, took on world number five and five-time Grand Slam finalist, Milika Nikolic.
01:13 Babalfat took home her first world judo tour medal.
01:29 Deputy Secretary of Security Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Medag Gulyaev, was
01:34 on hand to award the medals.
01:37 At under 66 kilograms, Spain's Gaitero Martin showed off his supreme groundwork skills to
01:42 twice free his leg and hold down Daiki Bubele France.
01:46 The medals were awarded by Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan,
01:51 Chinzis Hussein Zadeh.
02:07 The final of the under 52 kilogram category was a superstar showdown with Odette Giofrida
02:13 against the Euro Caldierova.
02:15 The pair fought hard but it was Caldierova who triumphed, countering the Italian for
02:19 a Waza-Ari score and her fifth Grand Slam title.
02:24 She was awarded her medals by Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, Mariana
02:29 Vassileva.
02:34 The crowd was treated throughout the day to a show of class, with the Azeri team demonstrating
02:39 their skills culminating in a bronze medal for Balabai Agayev.
02:46 Join us tomorrow for a second day of judo.
02:49 -
02:55 (upbeat music)
02:57 (upbeat music)