Thrilling Finishes Light Up Day 2 in Tbilisi
Day two of the Tbilisi Grand Slam 2026 has come to a close, with electrifying performances from judokas around the world. The Tbilisi Arena witnessed a series of nail-biting matches, with athletes pushing themselves to the limit in pursuit of the podium.
One of the standout matches was the -63kg final between current world champion Haruka KAJU of Japan and former world champion Joanne VAN LIESHOUT of the Netherlands. KAJU emerged victorious, controlling the tempo and taking gold. In a post-match interview, KAJU praised the Georgian fans, saying their support made it easier to compete.
Another thrilling match took place in the -73kg category, where Leonardo VALERIANI of Italy faced Valtteri OLIN of Finland. VALERIANI produced some of the day's best ippons, eventually forcing a submission from his opponent to win his first-ever grand slam gold. VALERIANI expressed his love for Tbilisi, saying the loud and enthusiastic crowd made him feel very good.
Madina TAIMAZOVA of Kazakhstan secured her fourth Grand Slam gold at -70kg, while Vedat ALBAYRAK of Turkiye took gold in the -81kg category. Giorgi LOLADZE of Georgia also impressed with a home bronze medal in the -73kg category.
The competition is set to heat up tomorrow, with the heavyweights taking centre stage on day three.
The Tbilisi Grand Slam 2026 has showcased the incredible talent and skill of judokas from around the world. The electric atmosphere in the Tbilisi Arena has been a perfect backdrop for these thrilling matches. As the competition enters its final stages, one thing is clear: the heavyweights are ready to put on a show.
