Ashley McKenzie finishes fifth in Abu Dhabi Grand Slam

Commonwealth Champion Ashley McKenzie (-60kg) picked up 100 world ranking points on the road to Rio, as he placed fifth at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in the United Arab Emirates today.

At the International Judo Federation (IJF) world tour event, 2013 European bronze medallist McKenzie won his first round by waza-ari against the 2012 European medallist Jeroen Mooren of Netherlands but then lost by ippon to 2013 Tyumen Grand Slam bronze medallist Ilgar Mushkiyev to drop into the repechage. After his next opponent Aibek Imashev was injured, McKenzie progressed to the bronze medal match against Kherlen Ganbold of Mongolia and despite taking an early shido, lost the contest when his opponent gained two more and then won the contest by ippon with uchi-mata.

Fellow 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth gold medallist Colin Oates (-66kg) beat 2009 World bronze medallist Elio Verde of Italy by ippon in his opening contest but then lost narrowly on shidos against Tarlan Karimov of Azerbaijan in the pool semi final by a measure of 3:2 to exit the competition.

Upon reaching the last 16 he took 60 points. Under 57kg Commonwealth Champion Nekoda Davis won her first round contest against European u23 medallist Tina Zeltner of Austria and then bowed out after a loss by ippon to Olympic bronze medallist Marta Malloy of the USA in the last minute, and again upon reaching the last 16 she picked up 60 points.

Meanwhile, Stephanie Inglis (-57kg) exited in her first round after losing by penalties against Giula Quintavalle of Italy. Nathon Burns (-66kg) was beaten by two yukos to Kenneth Van Gansbeke of Belgium, and Commonwealth Champion Louise Renicks (-52kg) lost out to Arca Ayse of Turkey by yuko.

Saturday sees Jodie Mullen (-63kg), Sally Conway (-70kg), Megan Fletcher (-70kg) and Owen Livesey (-81kg) all in action.

Watch the action online at ippon.tv 

Images. Profile by Mike Varey and action courtesy of IJF by Zahony 

Words by Donna Richardson.