Japan dominate Tokyo Grand Prix

After a disappointing showing at the London Olympics this summer Japan’s judokas bounced back in style winning three of the five golds up for grabs on the final day of the Judo Grand Slam on home soil in Tokyo. With Ruika Sato claiming the women’s under 78 kilo category title earlier in the day Daisuke Kobayashi made it two gold for the home nation in the Men’s under 100 kilogramme weight division. Kobayashi sending Greek champion Ilias Iliadis to the floor in the final minute of the combat for an ippon score and the gold. The third and final gold for Japan came in the form of Megumi Tachimoto who beat Olympic champion Idalys Ortiz of Cuba to win the women’s over 78kg class. Ortiz was once penalised for passivity before the more aggressive Tachimoto took her opponent to the tatami and closed out the contest with a strangulation move. The Cuban knew the game was over and could only tap the floor in submission as Tachimoto won with ippon and at the same time claimed Japan’s third gold in a dominant final day for the host team.