The key facts

  • Men's final: Akhmat beat Konar 3:0; women's final: Rodina — Mekhmash 3:2.
  • According to Russian Judo Federation President Sergei Soloveychik, the finalists accounted for about 70 medals from major international tournaments.
  • Bronze was shared by Lokomotiv and Ural — Western Siberia among the men, and Turbostroitel and Pridonye Top Team among the women.

Season results and final matches

The final matches of the fourth season of the Fonbet Continental Judo League took place in Moscow on the tatami of the International Sambo Center, the company's press service told the newspaper Gazeta.Ru. Ten men's and eight women's clubs competed for the trophies, and the team rosters included medalists of the Olympic Games, World and European Championships.

How the finals unfolded

The women's final ended with a 3:2 victory for Rodina. The Yekaterinburg team took a 2:0 lead thanks to Darya Kuzmina and Milena Khilova, then Darya Vasilyeva reduced the deficit, and Alexandra Babintseva leveled the score with an ippon. The fate of the cup was decided by the bout between Karina Efimova and Alesya Kuznetsova: two yuko scores brought victory to the club from Yekaterinburg. The men's final ended 3:0 in favor of Akhmat: Ismail Misirov defeated Obid Dzhebov in golden score, Magomed Mashtaev proved stronger than Muslim Kotiev, and Abdul-Kerim Tasuev scored the decisive point in his bout with Somon Makhmadbekov. The bronze medals were shared by Lokomotiv and Ural — Western Siberia among the men, and by Turbostroitel and Pridonye Top Team among the women.

Organizers' assessments and awards

Russian Judo Federation President Sergei Soloveychik estimated that all the finalists, including foreign athletes, accounted for about 70 medals from major international tournaments. “We always say that the world judo family is unique — we have no borders or contradictions which, unfortunately, exist between the governments of our countries,” Gazeta.Ru quotes him as saying. Fonbet General Director Alexander Paramonov called the final a celebration of sport and noted the growing popularity of judo among spectators; according to him, the company supports the tournament every year, seeing this as a task of supporting domestic sport. The organizers prepared an opening ceremony, contests, quizzes and prize draws, and the special guest was singer Bearwolf. The special Hero of the Day awards went to Magomed Mashtaev and Alexandra Babintseva, and the Ippon of the Day awards to Darya Kuzmina and Astemir Abazov.