Hassan Doukkali made history for Morocco by winning the country’s first gold medal at the Grand Slam level during the final against Masudi Ahmadzod from Tajikistan. The event took place in Abu Dhabi, where Doukkali showcased strong determination throughout the tournament.
In a competitive final, Ahmadzod aimed to impose his strategy early in the match, but Doukkali countered effectively after a significant attack, scoring a yuko and taking the lead. Despite the pressure from Ahmadzod in the final two minutes, Doukkali managed to hold onto his advantage and secure victory.
After the match, Doukkali expressed his pride in achieving this milestone, stating, “I’m very happy and proud to win this gold medal at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam. It means a lot of things for me. I’m proud for myself; after a lot of chances, finally I’m a gold medallist. I’m happy because I fight for Morocco as a country too, as well as a sports federation, and that makes me feel a lot of things. It’s a big step for me.”
The bronze medal bouts included a match between Akil Gjakova from Kosovo and Karen Galstian from Russia, where Galstian ultimately triumphed after demonstrating aggressive tactics to win by waza-ari. In another bronze medal match, Irakli Goginashvili from Great Britain faced Hidayat Heydarov from Azerbaijan. Despite a valiant effort, Goginashvili lost after accumulating penalties against Heydarov.
The medal ceremony featured the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tajikistan to the UAE, Ashrafjon Gulov, along with UAE Judo Federation board member Amel Al Aidarous, who presented the medals and prizes to the winners.
Doukkali’s gold marks a significant achievement not only for him as an athlete but also for Morocco in the world of judo, setting a precedent for future competitors from the country.
