Day 2 of the Guadalajara Grand Prix saw judo brilliance from world champion Haruka Kaju, Olympic champion Hidayat Heydarov, and Croatia’s Lara Cvjetko, with Vusal Galandarzade closing the day in style. The Mexican crowd’s energy made it an unforgettable day.

Guadalajara

The second day of the Guadalajara Judo Grand Prix saw the arena come alive with an energetic opening ceremony attended by key sports officials, including representatives from the Mexican Judo Federation and the International Judo Federation (IJF). The competition featured standout performances, with world champion Haruka Kaju of Japan winning the under-63kg final, and Olympic champion Hidayat Heydarov securing gold in the under-73kg category.

Lara Svetko of Croatia triumphed in the under-70kg final, while Vusal Galandaradze of Azerbaijan claimed victory in the under-81kg division. The event was marked by strong local support and showcased the growing passion for judo in Mexico, with the home team delivering notable performances for the crowd.

Mexican passion lights up day 2 in Guadalajara

It's day two of the Guadalajara Judo Grand Prix in Mexico. The arena burst into life with the opening ceremony, filled with spectacular performances and opening speeches. In attendance was Mrs. Lilian Estrada, President of the Mexican Judo Federation. And the speeches were given by Luis Rivera, Deputy Director of Sport Quality, Fernando Ortega, General Director of the Jalisco Sports Institute. And the event was officially opened by Mr. Vladimir Barta, Head Sports Director of the IJF. The crowd was electric as local and international heroes took to the tatami throughout the day. In the under-63kg final, current world champion Haruka Kaju of Japan faced Jessica Klimkate of Canada. This was their first meeting in a final. It was Kaju who demonstrated her total dominance on the ground, executing a beautiful transition to secure the hold-down and gold. The medals were presented by Conadé High Performance Director, Mr. Luis Rivera. The under-73kg final saw current Olympic champion Hidayat Heydarov in his first final since the 2024 Olympic Games. Heydarov seems to have now found his form and caught his opponent with his most dynamic moment of the day. Gold for Heydarov. I have loved the tour in Latin America. Both countries are very beautiful. The main purpose for me coming here is to train and prepare for the competitions here next year. His medal was awarded by CODE Jalisco Director General, Mr. Fernando Ortega Ramos. The under-70kg final featured Lara Svetko of Croatia against Dana Pohl of Germany. In a tense battle, only a single Juko score from Svetko would be needed to claim victory. Another gold medal for the Croatian's collection. I thought it was going to be like an Ippon because of the way she flew and fell and then I looked and the referee gave Juko and I was like, yeah, it's because I let go of my hands, but that's something to work on. She received her medal from IJF Head Referee Director, Mr. Armin Bagdazarov. In the under-81kg final, Vusal Galandaradze of Azerbaijan closed out the day with a show-stopping Oranagi. A perfectly seized opportunity saw Galandaradze take home the gold. The medals were awarded by IJF Ambassador and IJF Medical Commission Chair, Dr. Antonio Castro. The home team put on a standout show for the local crowd, showcasing the passion of Mexican judo on and off the mat. See you tomorrow for Day 3, when it's time for the heavyweights.

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