Jeju 2013: Day One

Japan’s Yuhei Rokugo produced a stunning performance to outclass fellow countryman Kengo Takaichi in the under 66 kilo category final at the Jeju Grand Prix in South Korea on Thursday.

The bronze medals were won by South Korea’s Taeho Youn and Ukraine’s Georgii Zantaraia who beat Mongolia’s Altansukh Dovdon and Britain’s Colin Oates respectively.

In the women’s under 57 kilo class, Olympic silver medallist Corina Caprioriu was stunned by Japan’s Christa Deguchi in the showpiece match.

The 18-year-old, who defeated world champion Rafaela Silva in Tokyo a few days ago, scored a waza-ari on her first move before securing the title with a superb ouchi-gari in the dying seconds.

Local favourite Da-Woon Joung gave the crowd something to cheer about when she edged out Seulgi Kim in the under 63 kilo category.

With seven gold medals up for grabs on day one, the Japanese athletes helped themselves to three, 1 more than hosts South Korea, who remain well in contention going into day two.