The Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam 2025 wrapped up in dramatic fashion on Sunday, delivering three days of world-class judo at the Steppe Arena. From rising cadets to elite powerhouses, judoka from around the world fought not just for medals but for momentum heading into the new Olympic cycle. And Mongolia, with its rich heritage and proud crowds, proved once again it’s more than just a host, it’s a home of champions.

The tone was set on Thursday, July 24, during the official draw ceremony, which brought together key figures from the International Judo Federation and the Mongolian Judo Association. Among the attendees were IJF General Treasurer Mr. Naser Al Tamimi, IJF Head Referee Director Mr. Armen Bagdasarov and IJF Sport Director Mr. Kosei Inoue, along with MJA General Secretary Mr. Battsetseg Batgerel and Mr. Bilegt Erdenesaikhan, Chair of the Mongolian State Committee of Physical Culture and Sports.

“This is more than a sporting occasion; it is a celebration of values including respect and fair play,” said Mr. Erdenesaikhan. “Welcome to Mongolia.”

Day 1: Cadets rise, veterans deliver

-52 kg: Fujishiro Too Strong, but Mongolia Cheers for Myagmarsuren
Nandin-Erdine Myagmarsuren (MGL), just 19 years old, brought the arena to life with a stunning run to the final. While Kokoro Fujishiro (JPN) took gold, Myagmarsuren’s silver felt like a home victory.

-57 kg: Galitskaia Unstoppable
Galitskaia controlled the -57 kg category with clinical precision, dispatching her opponents with authority to claim gold.

-66 kg: Nutfulloev Stuns Vieru
Uzbekistan’s Abdurakhim Nutfulloev upset top seed Denis Vieru in a semi-final shocker, then sealed gold with sharp and fearless judo.

Day 2: Crowd and home victories

The Steppe Arena came alive with the official opening ceremony, a blend of tradition, music and colour that showcased Mongolia’s cultural identity. On the tatami, the local judoka responded with grit and glory.

-63 kg: Bold Brings First Gold for Mongolia
Bold (MGL) delivered when it mattered most, taking home the host country’s first gold medal with smart, composed judo.

-70 kg: Terada Outclasses Liu
Japan’s Utana Terada dominated the -70 kg division, executing her game plan to perfection throughout the day.

-73 kg: Odgerel Upsets the Bracket
Unseeded and fearless, Uranbayar Odgerel (MGL) thrilled fans by defeating Ahmadzod Masudi (TJK) in the final for Mongolia’s second gold.

-81 kg: Oino Emerges as a New Contender
Oino (JPN) took advantage of an open field, scoring a flawless o-uchi-gari in the final to win gold.

Day 3: Heavyweights and power displays

-78 kg: Umeki Shines, Sampaio Settles for Silver
Veteran Mami Umeki (JPN) proved too experienced for Portugal’s Patricia Sampaio. With poise and timing, Umeki captured the -78 kg gold, her third grand slam title.

Germany’s Julie Hoelterhoff fell early, while Tatarchenko (IJF) finished seventh.

+78 kg: Fontaine Confirms Her Dominance
Top-seeded Lea Fontaine (FRA) was in no mood for surprises. Three straight ippon victories and a composed final win over Jinesinuer Ayiman (CHN) saw her secure another major title.

Despite energetic performances, Mongolia missed out on medals in this division, with two judoka losing bronze medal bouts.

-100 kg: Savytskiy Claims Second Grand Slam Title
In one of the day’s most technical finals, Anton Savytskiy (UKR) and Zsombor Veg (HUN) both delivered sharp performances in the morning session and looked sharp going into the final.

Savytskiy opened with a well-timed sumi-gaeshi for waza-ari, then added a second score with tani-otoshi. Veg fought until the end, but Savytskiy’s blend of calmness and control proved too much. The Ukrainian now holds two grand slam golds this year, following his earlier win in Tbilisi.

Karl Baathe (SWE) couldn’t match the pace of double world champion Nikoloz Sherazadishvili (ESP), who dominated with tactical superiority, drawing three penalties and claiming bronze with ease.

In the second bronze contest, Bahrain’s Said Sadrudinov executed a massive pick-up throw against Idar Bifov (IJF) for ippon, earning his first grand slam medal and Bahrain’s second medal of the tournament.

Open Category: Okada Breaks Through
In the open division, Japan’s Riku Okada and Uzbekistan’s Umar Bozorov faced off after impressive runs. Okada managed distance expertly and struck first with o-uchi-gari, scoring yuko, before turning Bozorov over for ippon, capturing his first grand slam gold medal.

Israpil Sagaipov (BRN) secured bronze with a brilliant ko-uchi-gari into ashi-guruma combination against Yermakhan Anuarbekov (KAZ), while Ikhvan Edilsultanov (IJF) edged Umedjon Rajabov (TJK) with a late waza-ari counter to take his first World Judo Tour medal.