Delgado, Berliner, Myers and Horiuchi Earn Top-32 Results in Paris
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by Nicole Jomantas
(Colorado Springs, CO) – Four members of Team USA advanced to the round of 32 at the Paris Grand Slam over the weekend, each earning qualifying points for the Olympic Games that will be held in the French capital in July.
Angelica Delgado (Miami, FL / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) won her opening match in the 52 kg division in just over a minute. The two-time Olympian threw two-time Pan Am-Oceania Championships medalist Tinka Easton (AUS) with an o soto gari (outer leg throw) for a waza-ari late in the first minute and transitioned into a pin for ippon (instant win).
In her next match, Delgado fought Mascha Ballhaus (GER) – the World No. 9 who won three Grand Slam medals in 2023. Ballhaus threw Delgado with a drop seoi (dropping shoulder throw) for a waza-ari in the second minute and finished the match with a sode (sleeve throw) for a second waza-ari in the final minute.
Ari Berliner (Schenectady, NY / NYAC / Jason Morris Judo Center), a bronze medalist at the 2022 Senior Pan Ams, pinned 2023 Montreal Pan Am Open bronze medalist Mounis Hawsawi (KSA) for a waza-ari (half point) early in the second minute of their round of 64 match in the 66 kg division. Although Hawsawi escaped the pin after 10 seconds, Berliner regained control and armbarred Hawsawi for the win.
In the round of 32, Berliner fought six-time Senior Pan Am Championship medalist Juan Postigos (PER). Berliner kept the match close until the fourth minute when Postigos threw with for ippon with an o soto gari (outer leg throw).
Six-time Continental Open medalist Melissa Myers (Burnt Hills, NY / Jason Morris Judo Center) won her first Grand Slam match in the 70 kg round of 64, defeating two-time Junior European Championship medalist Joana Crisostomo (POR) on penalties.
Penalties would be Myers’ downfall in the next round when she lost by three to Tokyo Olympian Laerke Olsen (DEN).
Philip Horiuchi (West Covina, CA / LA Tenri Judo Dojo), a 2023 Pan Am Games Team member, also scored his first Grand Slam match win, throwing Saud Manaie (KSA) for ippon with a ko uchi gari (smaller inner leg throw) in the opening match of the +100 kg division.
Horiuchi kept his next match against 2022 Senior World Champion Andy Granda (CUB) close in the round of 32. However, both athletes received penalties for non-combativity late in the third minute. The penalty would be Granada’s second and Horiuchi’s third.
The World Tour will resume in Azerbaijan with the Baku Grand Slam from Feb. 16-18.
Members of Team USA also will be competing at the Tunis African Open from Feb. 10-11.
Top eight and U.S. results are as follows:
Men’s 60 kg
1. Luka Mkheidze (FRA)
2. Harim Lee (KOR)
3. Taiki Nakamura (JPN)
3. Francisco Garrigos (ESP)
5. Yung Wei Yang (TPE)
5. Tilshot Khalmatov (UZB)
7. Artem Lesiuk (UKR)
7. Romain Valadier Picard (FRA)
Also Competed: David Terao (Fairfax, VA), 0-1
Women’s 48 kg
1. Shirine Boukli (FRA)
2. Wakana Koga (JPN)
3. Laura Martinez Abelenda (ESP)
3. Assunta Scutto (ITA)
5. Erika Lasso (COL)
5. Baasankhuu Bavuudorj (MGL)
7. Katharina Menz (GER)
7. Milica Nikolic (SRB)
Also Competed: Maria Laborde (Kenosha, WI / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), 0-1
Men’s 66 kg
1. Takeshi Takeoka (JPN)
2. Joshiro Maruyama (JPN)
3. Narmandakh Bayanmunkh (UAE)
3. David Garcia Torne (ESP)
5. Baskhuu Yondonpereneli (MGL)
5. Baul An (KOR)
7. Bogdan Iadov (UKR)
7. Willian Lima (BRA)
Also Competed: Ari Berliner (Schenectady, NY / NYAC / Jason Morris Judo Center), 1-1
Isaiah Ramirez (Barstow, CA / Barstow PAL Judo Club), 0-1
Women’s 52 kg
1. Distria Krasniqi (KOS)
2. Chelsie Giles (GBR)
3. Ariane Toro Soler (ESP)
3. Kisumi Omori (JPN)
5. Khorloodoi Bishrelt (UAE)
5. Hibiki Shiraishi (JPN)
7. Gefen Primo (ISR)
7. Sosorbaram Lkhagvasuren (MGL)
Also Competed: Angelica Delgado (Miami, FL / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), 1-1
Men’s 73 kg
1. Tatsuki Ishihara (JPN)
2. Giorgi Chikhelidze (GEO)
3. Akil Gjakova (KOS)
3. Shakhram Akhadov (UZB)
5. Behruzi Khojazoda (TJK)
5. Daniyar Shamshayev (KAZ)
7. Adil Osmanov (MDA)
7. Dardan Cena (KOS)
Also Competed: Jack Yonezuka (West Long Branch, NJ / NYAC / Cranford JKC), 0-1
Women’s 57 kg
1. Faiza Mokdar (FRA)
2. Christa Deguichi (CAN)
3. Jessica Klimkait (CAN)
3. Sara Leonie Cysique (FRA)
5. Nora Gjakova (KOS)
5. Marica Perisic (SRB)
7. Veronica Toniolo (ITA)
7. Rafaela Silva (BRA)
Also Competed: Mariah Holguin (San Antonio, TX / Universal Judo), 0-1
Men’s 81 kg
1. Matthias Casse (BEL)
2. Zelim Tckaev (AZE)
3. Francois Gauthier Drapeau (CAN)
3. Timur Arbuzov (AIN)
5. Mihail Latisev (MDA)
5. Somon Makhmadbekov (TJK)
7. Abylaikhan Zhubanazar (KAZ)
7. Dominic Ressel (GER)
Also Competed: Kell Berliner (Schenectady, NY / Jason Morris Judo Center), 0-1
Bryan Davis (Monterey Park, CA / LA Tenri Judo Dojo), 0-1
Women’s 63 kg
1. Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA)
2. Katarina Kristo (CRO)
3. Lucy Renshall (GBR)
3. Gankhaich Bold (MGL)
5. Joanne Van Lieshout (NED)
5. Kirari Yamaguichi (JPN)
7. Nauana Silva (BRA)
7. Maylin Del Toro Carvajal (CUB)
Also Competed: Hannah Martin (Burnt Hills, NY / NYAC), 0-1
Men’s 90 kg
1. Mihael Zgank (TUR)
2. Eljan Hajiyev (AZE)
3. Maxime-Gael Ngayap Hambou (FRA)
3. Erlan Sherov (KGZ)
5. Komronshokh Ustopiriyon (TJK)
5. Rafael Macedo (BRA)
7. Marcus Nyman (SWE)
7. Sami Chouchi (BEL)
Also Competed: John Jayne (Chicago, IL), 0-1
Women’s 70 kg
1. Miriam Butkereit (GER)
2. Marie Eve Gahie (FRA)
3. Barbara Matic (CRO)
3. Margaux Pinot (FRA)
5. Giovanna Scoccimarro (GER)
5. Tais Pina (POR)
7. Lila Mazzarino (FRA)
7. Ai Tsunoda Roustant (ESP)
Also Competed: Melissa Myers (Burnt Hills, NY / Jason Morris Judo Center), 1-1
Men’s 100 kg
1. Aaron Wolf (JPN)
2. Nikoloz Sherazadishvili (ESP)
3. Aleksandar Kukolj (SRB)
3. Nurlykhan Sharkhan (KAZ)
5. Anton Savytskiy (UKR)
5. Daniel Eich (SUI)
7. Muzaffarbek Turoboyev (UZB)
7. Dzhafar Kostoev (UAE)
Also Competed: Nate Keeve (San Rafael, CA / NYAC), 0-1
Women’s 78 kg
1. Anna-Maria Wagner (GER)
2. Alice Bellandi (ITA)
3. Guusje Steenhuis (NED)
3. Madeleine Malonga (FRA)
5. Inbar Lanir (ISR)
5. Darya Kantsavaya (AIN)
7. Alina Boehm (GER)
7. Audrey Tcheumeo (FRA)
Men’s +100 kg
1. Teddy Riner (FRA)
2. Minjong Kim (KOR)
3. Kanta Nakano (JPN)
3. Alisher Yusupov (UZB)
5. Saba Inaneishvili (GEO)
5. Irakli Demetrashvili (GEO)
7. Losseni Kone (GER)
7. Yerassyi Kazhybayev (KAZ)
Also Competed: Philip Horiuchi (West Covina, CA / LA Tenri Judo Dojo), 1-1
Women’s +78 kg
1. Romane Dicko (FRA)
2. Kayra Ozdemir (TUR)
3. Lea Fontaine (FRA)
3. Raz Hershko (ISR)
5. Hilal Ozturk (TUR)
5. Mao Arai (JPN)
7. Asya Tavano (ITA)
7. Amarantha Urdaneta (VAN)
