Bolen and Eldred Advance to Second Round at Brazil Grand Slam

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Brad Bolen (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) and Michael Eldred (Fruitland, Idaho / Western Idaho Judo Institute) each advanced to the second round at the Brazil Grand Slam in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday in the 66kg and 73kg divisions, respectively. 

Bolen, who won the Pan American Championships in April, earned three yuko (quarter-point each) scores against Ian Sancho (CRC) before pinning Sancho for ippon (instant win).  Bolen lost in the next round, however, to Elio Verde (ITA) who went on to win the silver medal while Bolen was eliminated from the single elimination event. 

Eldred trailed two-time European medalist Yoel Razvozov (ISR) by an early waza-ari (half-point) score, but came back mid-way through the match to score a yuko.  With less than 30 seconds on the clock, Eldred pinned Razvozov for the win. 

In the second round, Eldred lost by ippon to former World medalist Krzysztof Wilkomirski (POL) who placed third overall. 

Also competing in the 73kg division, Nick Delpopolo (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) lost by two yukos in his first-round match to 2009 European silver medalist Dex Elmont (NED). 

On a day that included competition from numerous World and Olympic medalists, including gold medal wins by Japan in six of seven divisions, the remaining U.S. athletes were eliminated in the first round.

Aaron Kunihiro (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) trailed by a waza-ari and two penalties against 2010 Pan Am medalist Felipe Kitadai (BRA) in the 60kg division before being given a third penalty late in the final minute that ended the match. 

Jeff Fujimoto (Berkeley, Calif. / Cal Judo) also competed in the 60kg division, but lost by ippon to four-time World Cup medalist László Burján (HUN).

On the women’s side, Ann Shiraishi (San Francisco, Calif. / East Bay Judo Institute) lost her 48kg division match to Dayaris Mestre (CUB) by two waza-aris.

Natalie Lafon (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) fought former World Champion and 2008 Olympic medalist Yanet Bermoy (CUB) for a full five minutes, but lost the match by two yukos in the 52kg division. 

Hannah Martin (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) lost by ippon in her first match in the 57kg divisionagainst 2008 Junior World Champion Rafaela Silva (BRA).

Hana Carmichael (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) was pinned during her 57kg match against former World medalist Sabrina Filzmoser (AUT) who later won the bronze medal in the division.

Competition continues on Sunday with the men’s 81kg, 90kg, 100kg and +100kg divisions and the women’s 70kg, 78kg and +78kg divisions.

Complete results are as follows:

Men’s 60kg
1. Hiroaki Hiraoka (JPN)
2. Rishod Sobirov (UZB)
3. Arsen Galstyan (RUS)
3. Jeroen Mooren (NED)
5. Gwang-Hyeon (KOR)
5. Masaaki Fukuoka (JPN)
5. Sofiane Milous (FRA)
5. Ludwig Paischer (AUT)

3. Loic Korval (FRA)
3. Samainuen Miyaragcha (MGL)
5. Rok Draksoc (SLO)
5. Masashi Ebinuma (JPN)
5. Tsagaanbaatar Hashbattar (MGL)
5. Junpei Morishita (JPN)

Also Competed: Brad Bolen (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center), 1-1

Men’s 73kg
1. Hiroyuki Akimoto (JPN)
2. Attila Ungvari (HUN)
3. Dirk Van Tichelt (BEL)
3. Krzysztof Wilkomirski (POL)
5. Benjamin Darbelet (FRA)
5. Batradz Kaytmazov (RUS)
5. Sainjargal Nyam-Ochir (MGL)
5. Mirali Sharipov (UZB)

Also Competed: Michael Eldred (Fruitland, Idaho / Western Idaho Judo Institute), 1-1
Nick Delpopolo (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE), 0-1

Women’s 48kg
1. Tomoko Fukumi (JPN)
2. Frederique Jossinet (FRA)
3. Nataliya Kondratyeva (RUS)
3. Shugen Wu (CHN)
5. Liudmila Bogdanova (RUS)
5. Taciana Lima (BRA)
5. Sara Menezes (BRA)
5. Amelie Rosseneu (BEL)

Also Competed: Ann Shiraishi (San Francisco, Calif. / East Bay Judo Institute), 0-1

2. Marie Muller (LUX)
3. Hongmei He (CHN)
3. Romy Tarangul (GER)
5. Andressa Fernandes (BRA)
5. Rosalba Forcinti (ITA)
5. Kyung-Ok Kim (KOR)
5. Erika Miranda (BRA)

Also Competed: Natalie Lafon (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center), 0-1 

2. Telma Monteiro (POR)
3. Sabrina Filzmoser (AUT)
3. Viola Waechter (GER)
5. Yurisleidis Lupetey (CUB)
5. Autumne Pava (FRA)
5. Giulia Quintavalle (ITA)
5. Irina Zabludina (RUS)

1. Yoshie Ueno (JPN)
2. Marta Labazina (RUS)
3. Claudia Malzahn (GER)
3. Mariana Silva (BRA)
5. Yaritza Abel (CUB)
5. Yarden Gerbi (ISR)
5. Lili Xu (CHN)
5. Urska Zolnir (SLO)

Tags: Aaron Kunihiro, Aaron Kunihiro, Ann Shiraishi, Brad Bolen, Hana Carmichael, Hannah Martin, Jeff Fujimoto, Michael Eldred, Michael Eldred, Natalie Lafon, Nick Delpopolo