(Colorado Springs, CO) – Competing in the 18th Grand Slam of his career, 29-year-old Nate Keeve (San Rafael, Calif. / NYAC) earned his first top-five finish on Sunday when he placed fifth in the men’s 100 kg division at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Results
A two-time Pan American Senior Championships bronze medalist, Keeve took 2021 Zagreb Grand Prix bronze medalist Marko Kumric (CRO) to Golden Score (sudden death overtime) in their round of 16 match where it took Keeve only six seconds to score the winning waza-ari (half point).
Fighting World No. 4 Michael Korrel (NED) in the quarterfinal round, Keeve was thrown for ippon (instant win) by the two-time World Championship bronze medalist just over a minute into the contest. Korrel would go on to win the gold medal.
After earning a walkover win against Rhys Thompson (GBR) in the repechage, Keeve faced World No. 10 and reigning world champion Arman Adamian (IJF) for the bronze medal. Trailing by a waza-ari score in the second minute, Keeve was thrown for a second waza-ari at the 1:45 mark, giving Adamian the bronze medal.
Pan American Championships silver medalist David Terao (Arlington, Va.) received a bye into the round of 16 of the men’s 60 kg competition where he faced Samariddin Kuchkarov (UZB). After receiving two shidos (penalties) for non-combativity, Terao was called for his third and disqualifying shido at the 2:33 mark, giving the match to Kuchkarov.
Paris Olympian Jack Yonezuka (West Long Branch, N.J. / NYAC / Cranford JKC) took Alexander Bernd Gabler (GER) deep into Golden Score of their men’s 73 kg round of 32 match after neither fighter was able to land a scoring throw. The match ended 3:18 into the extra session when Yonezuka was called for his third and disqualifying shido.
Yonezuka’s older brother, Nick Yonezuka (West Long Branch, N.J. / NYAC / Cranford JKC) also competed in Abu Dhabi, earning a top-32 finish in the 81 kg division. In the round of 32, Yonezuka fought Vladimir Stark (GER) who was coming off a win at the Tallinn European Open in July. Stark was able to throw Yonezuka for an ippon at the 1:41 mark to claim the victory.
Top eight and U.S. results are as follows:
Men’s 60 kg
1. Iznaur Saaev (IJF)
2. Cedric Revol (FRA)
3. Dauren Syukenov (KAZ)
3. Emiel Jaring (NED)
5. Magzhan Shamshadin (KAZ)
5. Gamzat Zairbekov (IJF)
7. Kamoliddin Bakhtiyorov (UZB0
7. Samariddin Kuchkarov (UZB)
Also Competed: David Terao (Arlington, Va.), 0-1
Women’s 48 kg
1. Sabina Giliazova (IJF)
2. Andrea Stojadinov (SRB)
3. Abiba Abuzhakynova (KAZ)
3. Melanie Legoux Clement (FRA)
5. Sarah Ischt (GER)
5. Marina Vorobeva (IJF)
7. Laura Espadinha (FRA)
7. Leyla Aliyeva (AZE)
Men’s 66 kg
1. Murad Chopanov (IJF)
2. Daikii Bouba (FRA)
3. Mukhriddin Tilovov (UZB)
3. Obid Dzhebov (TJK)
5. Takeshi Takeoka (JPN)
5. Erkhembayar Battogtokh (MGL)
7. Rashad Yelkiyev (AZE)
7. Theo Raoul Hebrard (FRA)
Women’s 52 kg
1. Khorloodoi Bishrelt (UAE)
2. Sosorbaram Lkhagvasuren (MGL)
3. Lea Metrot (FRA)
3. Roza Gyertyas (HUN)
5. Erza Muminoviq (KOS)
5. Gabriela conceicao (BRA)
7. Amanda Lima (BRA)
7. Astride Gneto (FRA)
Men’s 73 kg
1. Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov (UAE)
2. Abubakr Sherov (TJK)
3. Tatsuki Ishihara (JPN)
3. Danil Lavrentev (IJF)
5. Rashid Mammadaliyev (AZE)
5. Karen Galstian (IJF)
7. Bajsangur Bagajev (SRB)
7. Leonardo Valeriani (ITA)
Also Competed: Jack Yonezuka (West Long Branch, N.J. / NYAC / Cranford JKC), 0-1
Women’s 57 kg
1. Seija Ballhaus (GER)
2. Irina Zueva (IJF)
3. Shirlen Nascimento (BRA)
3. Acelya Toprak (AZE)
5. Sara Souza (BRA)
5. Flaka Loxha (KOS)
7. Lou Lemire (FRA)
7. Faiza Mokdar (FRA)
Men’s 81 kg
1. Zelim Tckaev (AZE)
2. Zaur Dvalashvili (GEO)
3. David Karapetyan (IJF)
3. Dimitri Gochilaidze (GEO)
5. Adrian Sulca (ROU)
5. Nugzari Tatalashvili (UAE)
7. Abdul-Kerim Tasuev (IJF)
7. Omar Rajabli (AZE)
Also Competed: Nick Yonezuka (West Long Branch, N.J. / NYAC / Cranford JKC), 0-1
Women’s 63 kg
1. Manon Deketer (FRA)
2. Iva Oberan (CRO)
3. Carlotta Avanzato (ITA)
3. Joanne Van Lieshout (NED)
5. Gabriella Moraes (BRA)
5. Alessia Corrao (BEL)
7. Amanda Zuaznabar-Torres (ROU)
7. Brigitta Varga (HUN)
Men’s 90 kg
1. Mansur Lorsanov (IJF)
2. Jesper Smink (NED)
3. Giovani Ferreira (BRA)
3. Murad Fatiyev (AZE)
5. Nurbek Murtozoev (UZB)
5. Peter Safrany (HUN)
7. Umedjon Rajabov (TJK)
7. Mark Van Dijk (NED)
Women’s 70 kg
1. Margit De Voogd (NED)
2. Hilde Jager (NED)
3. Andela Violic (CRO)
3. Lara Cvjetko (CRO)
5. Ellen Froner (BRA)
5. Samira Bock (GER)
7. Liubov Orlova (IJF)
Men’s 100 kg
1. Michael Korrel (NED)
2. Niiaz Bilalov (IJF)
3. Arman Adamian (IJF)
3. Dzhakhongir Madzhidov (TJK)
5. Nate Keeve (San Rafael, Calif. / NYAC)
5. Simeon Catharina (NED)
7. Rhys Thompson (GBR)
7. Adilet Sapargaliyev (KAZ)
Women’s 78 kg
1. Anna Monta Olek (GER)
2. Chloe Buttigieg (FRA)
3. Migle Julija Dudenaite (LTU)
3. Zanet Michaelidou (CYP)
5. Karla Prodan (CRO)
5. Raffaela Igl (GER)
Men’s +100 kg
1. Valerii Endovitskii (IJF)
2. Ushangi Kokauri (AZE)
3. Jelle Snippe (NED)
3. Utkirbek Turoboyev (UZB)
5. Jur Spijkers (NED0
5. Tamerlan Bashaev (IJF)
7. Marvin Belz (GER)
7. Igor Vracar (SRB)
Women’s +78 kg
1. Coralie Hayme (FRA)
2. Karen Stevenson (NED)
3. Helena Vukovic (CRO)
3. Nazgul Maratova (KAZ)
5. Karina Takiyeva (KAZ)
5. Anastasiia Kholodilina (IJF)
7. Durdona Nizomaddinova (UZB)
7. Fotima Kuramboeva (UZB)