Judoka Frank de Wit has won bronze at the controversial grand slam tournament in Ulaanbatar. The 26-year-old Heemskerker defeated Abylaikhan Zhubanazar from Kazakhstan in the consolation final.
De Wit participated in the category up to 81 kilograms. He started less in the consolation final and received a waza-ari one and a half minutes before the end. His opponent Zhubanazar needed a medical break, after which De Wit struck decisively.
The North Hollander equalized with a waza-ari and soon afterwards an ippon followed. In the semifinals, De Heemskerker lost to South Korean Lee Joonhwan, the later winner of the tournament.
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The international judo federation IJF has decided that Russian judokas can continue to participate in international tournaments under the flag of the association. The Ukrainian team decided to withdraw after it became known that the Russians would participate in Ulaanbaatar (capital of Mongolia). The judo association then indicated that judokas who also would not go would ensure that their country would be disqualified.
It is extra sour that the grand slam tournament in Ulaanbaatar is part of the qualifying series for the Olympic Games in 2024.