By Gary Anderson

November 22 - Victor Scvortov representing the UAE proved too strong for Olympic champion Mansur Isaev © IJFVictor Scvortov delighted the home fans with victory on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi Judo Grand Prix ADNEC Exhibition Centre.


Four women's and three men's competitions were concluded and the first of the gold medals went to rising star French star Amandine Buchard who overcame Qingdao Grand Prix winner Alesya Kuznetsova of Russia with an impressive performance in the women's under 48 kilogram category.

Italian Valentina Moscatt and Mongolia's reigning world champion Urantsetseg Munkhbat took the bronze medals.

There was better news for Russia in the women's under 52kg class with Yulia Ryzhova proving too strong for Spain's Laura Gomez while France's Penelope Bonna and Romania's Andreea Chitu took the bronze medals respectively.

Germany's Miryam Roper, a silver medallist at London 2012, secured ko-soto-gari for ippon to seal victory over Romanian Corina Caprioriu in the under 57kg category. 

Portugal's Telma Monteiro and China's Yang Liu were the bronze medal winners.

Amandine Buchard of France (second from left) added to her growing reputation with victory in Abu Dhabi © IJFAmandine Buchard of France (second from left) added to her growing reputation with victory in Abu Dhabi © IJF
























In the under 63kg class, Austrian Kathrin Unterwurzacher caused a bit of an upset by overcoming France's World Championship silver medallist Clarisse Agbegnenou with a yoko-sutemi-waza to take the gold.

American Hannah Martin impressed in her bronze medal victory over Mongolia's Mungunchimeg Baldorj while Austria missed out on another medal as Hilde Drexler could not contend with Anicka Van Emden of the Netherlands.

In the men's competition, Russia's Beslan Mudranov went down to a defeat to Sharafuddin Lutfillaev of Uzbekistan, who immobilised his opponent with a well executed ippon in the final of the under 60kg class

Azerbaijan's Orkhan Safarov defeated Germany's Tobias Englmaier while Olympic champion Arsen Galstyan also had to make do with a bronze.

In the under 66kg category, Russia was among the medals yet again as Mikhail Pulyaev proved the man to beat, overcoming Azerbaijan's Nijat Shikhalizada in a tight final.

Alim Gadanov followed compatriot Pulyaev onto the podium securing bronze while the other bronze went to Spain's Sugoi Uriarte.

London 2012 silver medallist Miryam Roper secured yet another Grand Prix victory in Abu Dhabi © IJFGermany's London 2012 silver medallist Miryam Roper secured another Grand Prix victory in Abu Dhabi, beating Romania's Corina Caprioriu ©IJF
























The last final of the day proved worth the wait for the fans as Scvortov, representing the United Arab Emirates, pulled off a memorable and slightly unexpected victory over reigning Olympic champion Mansur Isaev of Russia in the under 73kg category.

A superb de-ashi-barai for ippon by Scvortov was enough to seal the win and send the home crowd into raptures.

Uzbekistan's Mirali Sharipov took home bronze as did Hungary's Olympic silver medallist Miklos Ungvari who immobilised Russian Denis Iartcev.

The action continues in Abu Dhabi tomorrow.

To watch the latest action on Judo TV click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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