Munkhbat Urantsetseg beat her former team-mate to claim one of four home gold medals ©IJF

Hosts Mongolia claimed four gold medals as the International Judo Federation (IJF) Grand Prix opened in Ulaanbaatar today.

Former world champion Munkhbat Urantsetseg began proceedings in perfect style by beating team-mate-turned-rival Otgontsetseg Galbadrakh of Kazakhstan in the women's under 48 kilograms final.

Galbadrakh had switched nationality last year effectively to boost her Olympic qualifying chances due to her rivalry with Munkhbat for the sole qualifying spot. 

Munkhbat, world champion in 2013, took the lead with a yuko from a sumi-gaeshi which proved to be decisive as the only score in the four minute contest.

The two could not meet again the Olympic final in five weeks time.

Mongolia secured a second podium-finish when teenager Khorloo Battamir shared bronze with Yurie Morizaki of Japan.

Seventeen-year-old Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo was a shock under 57kg winner after beating former Asian Championships winner Megumi Ishikawa with a decisive waza-ari throw,

South Korea's Kim Minju and Slovenia's Andreja Leski shared bronze.

Mako Uchio of Japan was the only non-Mongolian winner on the opening day of competition ©IJF
Mako Uchio of Japan was the only non-Mongolian winner on the opening day of competition ©IJF

Former world silver medallist and top seed Amartuvshin Dashdavaa took under 60kg honours as he saw off team-mate Ser-Od Nasanjargal with a two-minute ippon.

The host nation had a presence on all three steps of the podium when Bayarmagnai Dagvodorj shared bronze with Azerbaijan's Davud Mammadsoy.

Asian Championships winner Altansukh Dovdon claimed the fourth home triumph over another fellow Mongolian in the under 66kg final.

He beat Batsuuri Adiya in the final as Andraz Jereb of Slovenia and Askhat Telmanov of Kazakhstan took bronze.

Former World Junior Championships bronze medallist Mako Uchio was the only non-home winner when she defeated former Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix bronze medallist Azzaya Chintogtokh in the under 52kg final.

The contest was even in regulation time and everyone was on the edge of their seats and especially the coaches and fans as the seconds ticked away in golden score. 

It took a further two and half minutes for the finalists to be separated when the Mongolian was penalised with a shido for passivity. 

Croatia's Tena Sikic and Mongolia's Altantsetseg Batsukh each clinched bronze. 

Action is due to continue with four more finals tomorrow.

Men will compete in the under 73 and 81kg competitions while women will take to the tatami in the under 73kg and 81kg divisions.

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