The final day of the 2025 Baku Grand Slam delivered thrilling judo action. Murao Sanshiro, Arai Dota, Ruri Takahashi and Ota Hyoga led Japan to a total of 10 golds. Anna Monta Olek triumphed in a fierce German showdown. Azerbaijan hosted a spectacular event for judo fans worldwide!
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00:00Azerbaijan saw the final day of the 2025 Baku Grand Slam, where yet more crowd poured into
00:06the National Gymnastics Arena. The stars were here, ready to perform for an expectant audience
00:11full of some incredibly excited judo fans. There was a chance for some aspiring judoka
00:16from the Adaptive Judo for Children project to take to a Grand Slam tatami, a celebration
00:21of judo's true universality and inclusion for all.
00:24Olympic silver medalist Murao Sanshiro took on Marcello Froncoviac in the under-90 kilogram
00:29final. Murao seized his opportunity, catching the Brazilian for a score, and immediately
00:34pinning him to get the win.
00:38With the Paris Olympic Games silver, I feel that my techniques are giving a good influence
00:43inside and outside Japan.
00:48IGF president Mr. Marius Wieser awarded him the gold medal.
00:58Anna Montaolek took on her German rival Boehm in the final at under 78 kilograms. With
01:04the two locked in a tight battle, an instinctive foot sweep and golden scores for Olek's clinch
01:08victory.
01:10I think it's very, very nice because you go into the arena and it's loud, everybody's
01:15cheering, everybody knows the sport, so it's nice to fight here.
01:19Harvest Group CEO Mr. Almas Alsanov awarded the medals.
01:27Arai Dota stunned his opponent, Leonardo Gonsalves, after only 7 seconds in the under-100 kilogram
01:34final, with an incredibly well-timed foot sweep. It came in just the first exchange
01:39of the fight, earning Arai a first Grand Slam gold medal.
01:46IGF medical commission member Dr. Zoltan Zerbefi was on hand to award the medals.
01:55At plus 78s, Ruri Takahashi battled it out with Hilal Ozturk in the final. Another good
02:01transition from a throw into groundwork saw Japan clinch yet another gold medal. A first
02:07ever Grand Slam gold for Takahashi.
02:10Mr. Mehmet Yilmaz, Turkish Judo Federation vice president, presented the medals.
02:19At plus 100 kilograms, Japan's Ota Hyoga overcame the brilliant Basaev after a close
02:24and lengthy contest. Countering Basaev for a decisive score, these two judo giants showed
02:32a typical sign of respect, ending this tournament in true judo fashion.
02:39Russian Judo Federation president Mr. Sergei Soloveichik gave the medals.
02:48What a spectacle this has been for the next generation of judoka here in the land of fire.
02:53A mainstay on the IJF World Judo Tour.
02:57Thank you, Azerbaijan.