Japanese Judoka Compete at Tashkent Grand Slam
A total of five weight classes were contested for both men and women, with eight Japanese athletes participating in the Judo Grand Slam (GS) Tashkent tournament held on March 1, 2026, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Men’s 90kg Class: Okada Secures Bronze
Riku Okada (23) and Tomoaki Kawabata (20) competed in the men’s 90kg division. Okada secured a bronze medal after a challenging run to the podium. He began with a victory by ippon against an Indian competitor. His second-round match went into golden score overtime, where he ultimately dominated his Georgian opponent with a five-second hold during a back attack. Okada continued his success with a decisive win against a player from Uzbekistan using Uchimata.
“I’m looking forward to competing against strong athletes. It’s up to me to make the most of the opportunity I’m given, or kill it.”
Takuhiro Hirano
In the semi-finals, Okada faced two-time Olympic champion Bekauri (Georgia). Despite appearing to secure a win with Konouchi-gari at the complete of extra time, he was countered with an uranage, resulting in a waza-ari loss. Okada rebounded in the bronze medal match against Avazov (Russia), scoring a point with Ouchi Gari shortly after overtime began to claim a dominant victory. Kawabata, unfortunately, suffered a first-round loss against a competitor from Uzbekistan due to three fouls.
Men’s 100kg Class: Hirano Makes Senior Debut
Takuhiro Hirano (19) made his senior international tournament debut in the men’s 100kg class. He started strong, dominating a Chinese player with a powerful Uchimata attack. However, he lost to Davydochuk (Ukraine) by ippon in the second round with an Ouchi-gari. Paris Olympics gold medalist Kotsoyev (Azerbaijan) lost to Sadrudinov (Bahrain) in the semifinals and finished third, with Sadrudinov ultimately winning the gold.
Men’s 100kg+ Class: Nakamura Falls Short
Yuta Nakamura (23) competed in the men’s 100kg+ class. He lost by ippon to Yusupov (Uzbekistan) in the second round. Yusupov continued to the final but lost to Nasibov (Azerbaijan).
Tournament Overview
The OTP Group Tashkent Grand Slam 2025, held from February 28 to March 2, 2025, featured 23 countries and 242 judoka. The competition included 116 men and 126 women.
Did you recognize?
The Tashkent Grand Slam has become a significant event on the international Judo calendar, attracting competitors from across four continents.
Pro Tip
Effective Judo techniques, like Uchimata and Ouchi-gari, require precise timing and balance to execute successfully.
FAQ
- When was the Tashkent Grand Slam held? The Tashkent Grand Slam was held from February 28 to March 2, 2025.
- How many judoka participated? A total of 242 judoka participated, with 116 men and 126 women.
- Which countries were represented? 23 countries were represented at the tournament.
The Tashkent Grand Slam continues to showcase the skill and athleticism of judoka from around the globe, providing a platform for both established stars and rising talents.