Madina Taimazova claimed one of the IJF golds today ©Getty Images

Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov and Madina Taimazova claimed the first gold medals of the Russian team competing under the International Judo Federation (IJF) banner on the second day of the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam in Mongolia.

Makhmadbekov claimed gold in the men’s under-73 kilogram final by defeating home favourite Tsogtbaatar Tsend-Ochir.

Obidkhon Nomonov of Uzbekistan defeated compatriot Shakhram Akhadov for bronze, while Israel's Tohar Butbul won against Mongolian Ankhzaya Lavjargal for the same colour.

It was the first Grand Slam title a Russian athlete had won since the invasion of Ukraine.

Although some International Federations enforced outright banns on athletes and officials from Belarus and Russia, the IJF decided to allow them to compete neutrally.

Olympic bronze medallist Taimazova added a second title later by beating Yoko Ono of Japan in the women's under-70kg final.

Germany's Miriam Butkereit and Gulnoz Matniyazova of Uzbekistan completed the podium in third with wins over Maya Goshen of Israel and Zere Bektaskyzy of Kazakhstan respectively.

Nami Nabekura took Japan to the top of the medal table, claiming her nation's third of the event with gold in the women's under-63kg.

Nami Nabekura won the women's under-63kg gold ©Getty Images
Nami Nabekura won the women's under-63kg gold ©Getty Images

There, she defeated Israel's Gili Sharir.

Brigitta Varga of Hungary went out in the semi-finals against Nabekura, but secured a bronze with a repechage victory over Zulhumar Dahkinova from Turkmenistan.

IJF's Kamila Badurova took the other bronze with a victory over Kerem Primo of Israel.

Finally, South Korea's Lee Joon-hwan claimed the men's under-81kg gold, with a waza-ari being enough to defeat Austrian Shamil Borchahvili in the final.

Bronze medals went to The Netherlands' Frank de Wit and Japan's Takanori Nagase respectively thanks to their wins over Abylaikhan Zhubanzar of Kazakhstan and Alan Khubetsov from the IJF team.