Murao Seals Ulaanbaatar -90 kg with Fast Final Finish

Sanshiro Murao was the clear reference point in the -90 kg category in Ulaanbaatar, and the Japanese world champion delivered again in Judo. By the end of the day, he had added a ninth Grand Slam gold medal to his growing list of major results.

Murao arrived with huge momentum. Already an Olympic silver medallist from Paris 2024 and a multiple Grand Slam winner, he moved through the draw with the kind of control that made every round feel purposeful, even when it was not his most spectacular version.

He opened with O-soto-gari against Kenny Komi Bedel of Italy, immediately showing the sharpness that has made him one of the standout names in the category. Austria’s Thomas Scharfetter then pushed him, but Murao still came through by two yuko scores.

The Japanese star kept building from there. A Waza-ari and two more yuko scores against Boris Rutovic of Serbia sent him into the semi-final, where he defeated Adam Kopecky of the Czech Republic to reach the gold-medal match.

Murao did not need drama in the final; he needed precision.

On the other side of the draw, Maxime-Gaël Ngayap Hambou gave France another strong showing. The Olympic bronze medallist from Paris 2024, who had also taken European bronze earlier this season, carried that confidence into Ulaanbaatar and reached the semi-finals before losing to Jonghoon Kim of Korea.

That run mattered. Even without reaching the final, Ngayap Hambou stayed in the fight deep into the day and remained one of the notable European performers in the category.

The final between Murao and Kim looked promising on paper, but Murao quickly removed the suspense. He took control early, scored a first Waza-ari with O-soto-gari after a sudden change of direction, and then followed immediately with a hold-down for Ippon.

It was a clean, decisive ending, and exactly the kind of finish that underlined his authority in the division. The result gave him his ninth Grand Slam gold medal.

Afterward, Murao said the win brought relief as much as satisfaction. He made it clear that his attention is already shifting toward the world championships in Baku in October, where he wants gold and where he hopes to finally beat his biggest rival, Lasha Bekauri.

He also spoke warmly about winning in Mongolia, saying the connection he feels through sumo and Mongolian athletes competing in Japan made the moment especially meaningful.

The bronze-medal contests added a strong European note. Serbia’s Boris Rutovic defeated Ngayap Hambou with a well-timed Sumi-gaeshi for Waza-ari and added a late yuko to secure his second Grand Slam medal.

Rutovic turned one opening into a podium finish.

In the other bronze match, Murad Fatiyev of Azerbaijan beat Adam Kopecky after a scoreless start, scoring first with Tai-otoshi and then with a counter to take the medal.

The final podium in Ulaanbaatar featured Murao on top, Kim in silver, and bronze medals for Rutovic and Fatiyev. For Europe, Rutovic’s medal and deep runs from Ngayap Hambou and Kopecky gave the category extra weight, but the day still belonged to Murao and his ruthless efficiency.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation