Riner and Stump take gold at Dushanbe Grand Slam

After the continental championships, the Judo Grand Slam returned with a tournament in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. With some teams sending their second and third numbers to Dushanbe, the host country won a record seven medals, but only one was gold. Switzerland, Austria and Italy had two gold medals, with Switzerland topping the overall standings, Austria second and Italy third. 

In the women's competition, Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Jessica Klimkait of Canada won the 57 kg category and closed the gap on her team-mate, reigning world champion Christa Deguchi, in the Olympic rankings.

Asya Tavano from Italy (white) won the gold medal in the women's +78 kg category. IJF
Asya Tavano from Italy (white) won the gold medal in the women's +78 kg category. IJF

Just a week after Anna-Maria Wagner and Alina Boehm (both Germany) won silver and bronze respectively at the European Championships 2024 in the 78 kg category, they both reached the final of the Grand Slam and Wagner defeated her teammate to take the gold medal.

In the men's competition, reigning world champion Nils Stump (Switzerland) returned from injury with a victory. He defeated home favourite Behruzi Khojazoda in the final of the -73 kg category.

Double Olympic and 11-time world champion Teddy Riner once again shone in the men's super heavy category, winning all four of his bouts by ippon.

Teddy Riner from France (blue) against Temur Rakhimov from Tajikistan in the final bout of the +100 kg category. IJF
Teddy Riner from France (blue) against Temur Rakhimov from Tajikistan in the final bout of the +100 kg category. IJF

The next stop of the Judo Grand Slam will be in Astana, Kazakhstan, and will be the last major tournament before the 2024 World Championships in Abu Dhabi.

All the medallists of the 2024 Dushanbe Grand Slam

Women’s -48 kg
1. Baasankhuu Bavuudorj (Mongolia)
2. Tugce Beder (Turkiye)
3. Aina Moiseeva (Individual Neutral Athlete)
3. Milica Nikolic (Serbia)

Women’s -52 kg
1. Fabienne Kocher (Switzerland)
2. Binta N’Diaye (Switzerland)
3. Yerin Jung (Korea)
3. Glafira Borisova (Individual Neutral Athlete)

Women’s -57 kg
1. Jessica Klimkait (Canada)
2. Sarah Leonie Cysique (France)
3. Veronica Toniolo (Italy)
3. Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo (Mongolia)

Women’s -63 kg
1. Lubjana Piovesana (Austria)
2. Dali Liluashvili (Individual Neutral Athlete)
3. Amina Belkadi (Algeria)
3. Iva Oberan (Croatia)

Women’s -70 kg
1. Michaela Polleres (Austria)
2. Lara Cvjetko (Croatia)
3. Szabina Gercsak (Hungary)
3. Kelly Petersen Pollard (Great Britain)

The podium of the 78 kg category. IJF
The podium of the 78 kg category. IJF

Women’s -78 kg
1. Anna-Maria Wagner (Germany)
2. Alina Boehm (Germany)
3. Emma Reid (Great Britain)
3. Beata Pacut- Kloczko (Poland)

Women’s +78 kg
1. Asya Tavano (Italy)
2. Kinga Wolszczak (Poland)
3. Urszula Hofman (Poland)
3. Hyeonji Lee (Korea)

Men’s -60 kg
1. Muhammadsoleh Quvatov (Tajikistan)
2. Magzhan Shamshadin (Kazakhstan)
3. Iznaur Saaev (Individual Neutral Athlete)
3. Hayato Kondo (Japan)

Men’s -66 kg
1. Serdar Rahimov (Turkmenistan)
2. Obid Dzhebov (Tajikistan)
3. Mulorajab Khalifaev (Tajikistan)
3. Ivan Chernykh (Individual Neutral Athlete)

Men’s -73 kg
1. Nils Stump (Switzerland)
2. Behruzi Khojazoda (Tajikistan)
3. Mukhammad Jumaev (Uzbekistan)
3. Darkhan Koibagar (Kazakhstan)

Reigning world champ Nils Stump (Switzerland) wins his first major title after the 2023 World Championship. IJF
Reigning world champ Nils Stump (Switzerland) wins his first major title after the 2023 World Championship. IJF

Men’s -81 kg
1. Yoshito Hojo (Japan)
2. Wachid Borchashvili (Austria)
3. Dimitri Gochilaidze (Georgia)
3. Abylaikhan Zhubanazar (Kazakhstan)

Men’s -90 kg
1. Mansur Lorsanov (Individual Neutral Athlete)
2. David Klammert (Czech Republic)
3. Juyeop Han (Korea)
3. Muhammadjon Abdujalilzoda (Tajikistan)

Men’s -100 kg
1. Gennaro Pirelli (Italy)
2. Daniel Eich (Switzerland)
3. Dzhafar Kostoev (UAE)
3. Dzhakhongir Madzhidov (Tajikistan)

Men’s +100 kg
1. Teddy Riner (France)
2. Temur Rakhimov (Tajikistan)
3. Denis Batchaev (Individual Neutral Athlete)
3. Losseni Kone (Germany)