Maria Laborde Wins Second Grand Slam Bronze

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Maria Laborde (Kenosha, Wis. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) captured her second Grand Slam bronze medal, and first in 13 years, on the opening day of the Tashkent Grand Slam in Uzbekistan on Friday. Her only other career Grand Slam medal was a bronze at the 2013 Paris Grand Slam while competing for Cuba.

2026 Tashkent Grand Slam Results

Laborde went 3-1 on the opening day of the three-day Tashkent Grand Slam. Friday featured the women's 48kg, 52kg and 57kg categories, as well as the men's 60kg and 66kg divisions.

Laborde entered the 48kg category ranked No. 8 in the world and the No. 4 seed in the tournament. After a bye into the second round, Laborde needed Golden Score (sudden death overtime) to throw 2021 Asia-Oceania Cadet Champion Ulbusin Khakimova (UZB) for a yuko (partial-point) score. In the quarter-finals, Laborde took on Francesca Milani (ITA), and the six-time Grand Slam medalist was able to throw Laborde for a waza-ari (half-point) in the first minute of Golden Score. In the repechage, Laborde regrouped to defeat 2018 European Junior Championships bronze medalist Shafag Hamidova (AZE) by scoring a yuko midway through the four-minute match.

The win would pit Laborde against Laziza Haydarova (UZB), the 2023 Cadet World bronze medalist and 2025 Junior World bronze medalist. The bronze medal matchup between Laborde and Haydarova was closely contested and would go to Golden Score, the third Golden Score period on the day for Laborde. In the first minute of the extra time, Haydarova would be called for her third and disqualifying shido (penalty) for non-combativity, awarding the bronze medal to Laborde.

Also in action on Friday were Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / NYAC / USA Judo National Resident Team) in the men's 60kg, and Bilegt Erdenetsogt (Albany, Calif.) in the men's 66kg.

Yang threw Daniel Stein Padoa (ISR) for a waza-ari to win his round of 32 match, then was thrown for ippon in Golden Score of his round of 16 match against eventual silver medalist Balabay Aghayev (AZE).

Erdenetsogt lost his round of 32 match to World No. 17 Valerio Accogli (ITA) after giving up a waza-ari in the final minute of action.

Competition continues throughout the weekend with the women’s 63kg and 70kg and men’s 73kg and 81kg events taking place on Saturday. The women’s 78kg and +78kg and men’s 90kg, 100k and +100kg events will take place on Sunday.

Top eight and U.S. results for Friday are as follows:

Men’s 60kg
1. Ahmad Yusifov (AZE)
2. Balabay Aghayev (AZE)
3. Taiki Nakamura (JPN)
3. Doston Ruziev (UZB)
5. Mehrzod Sufiev (TJK)
5. Luka Gadelia (GEO)
7. Michel Augusto (BRA)
7. Jiahao Sun (CHN)
Also Competed: Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / NYAC / USA Judo National Resident Team), 1-1

Men’s 66kg
1. Hifumi Abe (JPN)
2. Shinsei Hattori (JPN)
3. Nurali Emomali (TJK)
3. Abdullakh Parchiev (RUS)
5. Valerio Accogli (ITA)
5. Channyeong Kim (KOR)
7. Ronald Lima (BRA)
7. Zamohshari Bekmurodov (UZB)
Also Competed: Bilegt Erdenetsogt (Albany, Calif.), 0-1

Women’s 48kg
1. Xinran Hui (CHN)
2. Mizuki Harada (JPN)
3. Maria Laborde (Kenosha, Wis. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Sachiyo Yoshino (JPN)
5. Laziza Haydarova (UZB)
5. Francesca Milani (ITA)
7. Shafag Hamidova (AZE)
7. Tugce Beder (TUR)

Women’s 52kg
1. Kokoro Fujishiro (JPN)
2. Khorloodoi Bishrelt (UAE)
3. Odette Giuffrida (ITA)
3. Liliia Nugaeva (RUS)
5. Gabriela Conceicao (BRA)
5. Sofia Asvesta (CYP)
7. Sugdiyona Rafkatova (UZB)
7. Aleksandra Kaleta (POL)

Women’s 57kg
1. Shukurjon Aminova (UZB)
2. Mio Shirakane (JPN)
3. Jessica Lima (BRA)
3. Ana Viktorija Puljiz (CRO)
5. Bianca Reis (BRA)
5. Eteri Liparteliani (GEO)
7. Timna Nelson Levy (ISR)
7. Giulia Carna (ITA)