It is finally here, the week of the Junior World Championships 2024, which will be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. With many of the lighter weights already arriving, acclimating to their competition grounds, their chance for a world title is but a day away, but for those competing on the fourth and final day of competition, final preparations are still underway.
The -78kg category will be lead by Shirinjon YULDOSHOVA from neighbouring Uzbekistan, but falling in at #2 and #3 seed are German duo; Eva Ronja BUDDENKOTTE and Mathilda Sophie NIEMEYER. The latter took a bronze medal most recently in the Tallinn Junior European Championships, whereas Buddenkotte narrowly missed out on the podium position. Unfortunately this was also the case at the 2023 edition of the junior worlds, but with another year of experience and a good seeding position, things may look a little different this time. European finalists, Lila MAZZARINO (FRA) and Jovana STJEPANOVIC (SRB) continue the seeded places, wrapped up by Finland’s Emma KRAPU (FIN).
A surprise does lie in store for the -78kg women, as Paris Olympian, senior world bronze medallist and currently senior world ranked #11, Yelyzaveta LYTVYNENKO (UKR) is unranked in this event, her last junior event was the Junior European Championships in 2022 where she took the title.
Impressively in the -100kg category, the four 2024 Junior European medallists will be leading the category, though not in medal order. Only one of the group stood on the world podium in 2023, Joes SCHELL (NED). The Dutchman has worked his way to the WRL #1 position, ahead of the current European Champion, Milan BULAJA (SRB) and silver medallist, Jakob VARES (EST). Maxence BORDIN (FRA) is the fourth in the leading pack, it would be a truly incredible feat for this group to mirror their European achievement in Tallinn. It won’t be an easy path however, Asian Junior Champion, Mukhammadsodik SODIKOV (UZB) is chasing them down in fifth seeded position, as are the Brazilian pair; Andre KRAMER and Matheus GUIMARAES.
Current European Champion, Celia CANCAN (FRA) is the number one seed of the -78kg category, and if all goes to plan she could find herself in the final, where she may discover one very tough opponent; LEE Hyeonji (KOR). Since claiming a junior world bronze medal in 2023 whilst still a cadet, Lee went for the trifecta and won the Asian cadet, junior and senior championships this year. If that wasn’t claim enough, she has added two Grand Slam bronze medals to her collection this year, her last in the very place she will look for a junior world title, Dushanbe. Marcelina VRANJES (CRO) took an emotional bronze medal in Tallinn this year, and with this win pushed herself to WRL #4 and Gabrielle BOUVIER (BEL) will the final European athlete in the top eight.
One name immediately stands out in the men’s +100kg category line up: Ibrahim TATAROGLU (TUR). This junior debuted in the Olympic Games this year, cementing his place in history, but he was clearly not finished ticking the junior box as he claimed the Junior title in Tallinn and will endeavour to transform last years silver in to a gold in Dushanbe! Though led by Canadian, John MESSE A BESSONG, there is a strong Asian presence in this category, but European medallists including Kanan NASIBOV (AZE), Davit KEVLISHVILI (ESP) and Mortaza SUHA (GER) all have equal chances to continue on their medal haul in this major championship.
Author: Thea Cowen