Azerbijan dominate at second day of Judo Grand Slam

The Azeri judoka home team took home two gold medals in Baku.

Transcript

00:00 An exceptional performance of the Azeri Judoka at the Baku Grand Slam, where they won two

00:10 gold medals on the second day.

00:14 President Aliyev's keen interest in Judo, illustrated by his recent visit to the newly

00:19 built National Judo Training Center, a state of the art preparation facility, has contributed

00:24 significantly to elevating the nation's standing in the world of Judo.

00:32 Spain and Canada occupied the second and third spot in the Grand Slam respectively, while

00:37 the breakout star was Sweden's Tarababul Fath.

00:43 At under 73kg, local hero and world number one Hiryat Haydarov set out to win at home

00:49 for the third year in a row and fourth time overall.

00:54 A quick bit of thinking saw him overcome Abu Baksh Shairov of Tajikistan in the final.

01:03 Azerbaijan Judo Federation President Rashad Nabiyev awarded the medals.

01:14 This is the fourth time I have won this Grand Slam.

01:18 I am loved a lot by the kids and God willing I will bring them an Olympic gold medal.

01:30 At under 60kg, another world ranked number one athlete, Catherine Bouchemin-Pinard was

01:35 also looking for glory.

01:37 However, after an exhausting tactical battle, it was the lighted Lubjana Fiovasana of Austria

01:42 who summoned the par to throw for Ippon and claim victory.

01:45 IJF Vice President Laszlo Tutt was on hand to award the medals.

01:51 She has beaten me three times before and always in fights like this.

01:55 So I think she is a really great Judo player.

01:57 I think she is number one in the world just now and to have her as a friend is really

02:00 nice.

02:01 At under 70kg was a battle between two former world champions, Marie Evgaiye and Barbara

02:08 Matic.

02:09 Matic sensationally dropped under her opponent to score Ippon and win the contest.

02:14 She was awarded her medal by Fabrice Kakin, CEO of Salaries.

02:20 The under 81kg final was an all Azeri affair as compatriot Omar Rejabli and Zemlin Kaev

02:27 faced off for the title.

02:32 Kaev ultimately scored Ippon and secured his second Grand Slam win.

02:37 Mikhail Mikhaily, CEDCO Hungary chairman awarded the medals.

02:42 The Azerbaijan Judo Federation's I Promise campaign has engaged with over 4,000 children,

02:48 teenagers and athletes who signed pledges against bullying, symbolized by wearing special

02:52 bracelets.

02:53 We're back in Baku on Sunday for the heavyweights.

02:56 (upbeat music)