Ulaanbaatar
Mongolian Judokas Return Home with a Bronze Medal from Paris Grand Slam
Sports
Ulaanbaatar, February 5, 2024 /MONTSAME/. The first “Grand Slam” of the series of competitions organized by the International Judo Federation in 2024 has concluded in Paris, France. A total of 621 judokas from 107 countries participated in the tournament, with 18 athletes from Mongolia competing and returning home with one bronze medal.
In the women's -63 kg weight category, Gankhaich Bold, an International Master of Sports and a gold, silver, and bronze medalist of the Asian Championship, secured the bronze medal, marking the sole medal for the Mongolian team. She defeated Sevinch Isokova of Uzbekistan, Renata Zachova of the Czech Republic, and Laura Fazliu of Kosovo, but lost to Joanne van Lieshout of the Netherlands in the title match. After defeating Cuba's Maylín del Toro Carvajal in the follow-up match and Japan's Kirari Yamaguchi for the bronze, she earned the right to stand on the podium.
This is Gankhaich’s fifth medal from the 'Grand Slam' Tournaments. Gankhaich Bold is making a comeback to the arena after a six-month hiatus due to a serious injury. Last week, she dislocated her shoulder in the quarterfinals of the Grand Prix Portugal 2024, but this time she managed to stand on the podium.
Out of the 107 countries that participated in this tournament, only 22 returned home with any medals. Judokas from only six countries won gold medals. The organizing country, France, emerged from this tournament at the top of the ranking of nations, securing 6 gold medals, followed by Japan, Germany, Turkey, Kosovo, and Belgium. As for Mongolia, it concluded the “Grand Slam” in Paris by securing the 16th place successfully. Mongolian wrestlers have been winning medals for 15 years, except for 2009 when they did not secure a medal.
