37th WMC Judo – Uster (SUI) – Asian and European domination

USTER (SUI) – The competitions of the 37th WMC Judo started on December 10 in the Buchholz Uster Sport Sporthalle with the team competition. Five competitors of each nations are facing in their respective weight category. The women’s team competition, a round-robin tournament, was dominated by China (Lan, Wang, Huang, Yan and Li) who managed to win the gold medal ahead of Russia, silver medalist. France & Poland are sharing the third place of the competition.

In the Men’s team competition, Russia, with Khametov, Tolasov, Khubetsov, Igolnikov and Brachev easily defeated France in the gold medal game with a 5/0 victory. Mongolia and South Korea took the bronze medal as they respectively defeated China (3/2) and Italy (4/1).

For the detailed team competitions results: Final Team Rankings

The first individual competitions took place on December 11 with the following categories: women -48kg, women -52kg, women -57kg, women -63kg, men -60kg, men -66kg and men -73kg.

Persidskaia (RUS) won the gold medal game of the women -48kg against Lhenry (FRA) and was imitated by her teammate Ryzhova who took the gold medal against Pienkowska (POL) in the women -52kg category. The Russian judoka Konkina could not grab a third gold medal as she lost her gold medal game against Podolak (POL) in the women -57kg final. Finally, Poland won its second title of the day thanks to Ozdoba, gold medalist of the women -63kg category.

In the individual men events, Kyrgyzbayev (KAZ) defeated Dhouibi (TUN) to win the title of the -60kg competition. The Mongolian judoka Adiya defeated Khametov (RUS) in the final contest of the men -66kg. Finally, in the -73kg men event, China won its second medal of the tournament as Saiyinjirigala won his final contest against Kim (KOR).

During the last day of competition, Russia and Mongolia dominated the last male events as Khubetsov (RUS) and Ilyasov (RUS) respectively won the title in the -81kg and -100kg competitions. In the -90kg gold medal game, Gantulga (MGL) managed to grab the gold medal by defeating Wang (CHN) while his teammate Ulzibayar (MGL) prevented Russia from getting another title as he won the -100kg event against Brachev (RUS). The WMC ended with the women’s -70kg, -78kg and +78kg competitions. China won two new gold medals with Yan (-70kg) who defeated Prokopenko (RUS) and Li who beated Geri (ITA) in the +78kg gold medal contest. Finally, France won its first gold medal during this WMC as Vanessa Dureau defeated Babintseva (RUS) in the -78kg event.

The Closing Ceremony took place after the last competitions in the Buchholz Uster Sport Sporthalle and several authorities attended the event: the Official CISM Representative Colonel Walter Van Velthoven, the CISM PCSC Lieutenant-Colonel G. F. Sijnhorst, the Head of the Organizing Committee Lieutenant- and Chief of Delegation of Switzerland to CISM Colonel Hess, the Head of the Swiss Army Sport Department Colonel R. Ahlmann, the President of the Judo Swiss Federation Daniel Kistler, the Chiefs of Mission of the participating countries.

CISM OCR Colonel Van Velthoven took the floor to thank the organizers for this wonderful event. The Swiss Anthem and the CISM anthem were then played and the CISM Flag was lowered as this 37th edition of the World Military Judo Championship was officially closed!

Thank you Switzerland and see you in 2018 for the organization of the 50th WMC Shooting in Zürich!

For the detailed results: Men’s Final Results – Women’s Final Results

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)

(Pictures: Mr. Maxime Morlet and WO Dominique Einsweiler)