Eva Ronja BUDDENKOTTE (GER) gave a gruelling performance in her opening rounds in the -78kg category, only to face team mate; Mathilde Sophie NIEMEYER in the semi final. Though she wasn’t successful in this round, Buddenkotte went on to take the bronze medal, feigning to attack the current Junior European Champion with uchi mata, switching to sumi gaeshi to score waza ari. The German athlete did not take the risk and transitioned immediately in to the osaekomi for her world bronze medal.
Niemeyer was then the golden hope for Team Germany and headed in to the final against Brenda OLAYA (COL). For both athletes it was an exhausting final round, and though Niemeyer came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, it was Olaya who scored ippon in the final, resulting in a silver medal for Niemeyer.
Rares ARSENIE (ROU) looked to compete for a bronze medal in the -100kg category against Fares MEKHOUKH (FRA). Where Arsenie battled his way through the repechage, Mekhoukh fell at the final hurdle to MIKI Nozomu (JPN) and needed to pick himself back up to avoid losing two in a row, and the medal. It was an evenly fought contest but as the clock passed in to the final minute, a colossal sode tsuri komi goshi came from the Frenchman, scoring ippon.
From the top of the draw, Azhdar BAGHIROV (AZE) came through, defeating top seed Joes SCHELL (NED) in his opening contest, but was unable to get past the eventual Junior World Champion, Mukhammadsodik SODIKOV (UZB) in his semi final. Taking on Ali Reza NIKSERESHT (IRI) was yet another challenge, the similar styles putting them at a stalemate. Baghirov eventually managed to anticipate a seoi otoshi attempt from Nikseresht, and countered him to score the waza ari. Still a minute left on the clock with two shidos each, Baghirov needed to manage his contest well and indeed he did, securing his bronze medal.
Celia CANCAN (FRA) has been very successful so far as a first year junior, claiming the Junior European title early in September and today competed in the +78kg final. The final opponent, LEE Hyeonji (KOR) is already Cadet World Champion and took a Junior World bronze in 2023. Lee also lays claim to grand slam medals. Unfortunately for Cancan, the contest was over in the blink of an eye, Lee throwing with sasae tsurikomi ashi, and landing straight in to the osaekomi.
One of the favourites today in the +100kg category was Ibrahim TATAROGLU (TUR), and though he didn’t manage the final, he did take the bronze medal against Darius DOBRE (ROU). Half way through the contest, Tataroglu threw with a huge makikomi which landed him in the osae komi, for a second Junior World medal. Things were very tense in the second bronze medal contest between Saba KARDAVA (GEO) and Arden KADZAEV (IJF), an initial score given to Kardava, as Kadzaev made the mistake of coming out of an attack, and left himself open to a counter, however with only ten seconds left on the clock, the Georgian almost threw it away. Kadzaev had picked up two shidos and was chasing down his opponent, Kardava a little too relaxed and some beautiful ashi waza scored waza ari. Even. Two minutes in to golden score, Kadzaev went in again for the same technique, but it was anticipated, and Kardava countered again. Bronze for Georgia!
In the final of the +100kg category, it was Kanan NASIBOV (AZE) against Denis BATCHAEV (IJF). Just over a minute had gone by when Batchaev side-stepped an uchi mata attempt from Nasibov, though didn’t manage the control for the sukashi. He did however keep hold of the arm, followed down in to ne waza and rolled Nasibov, holding him in kami shiho gatame for the 20 seconds to earn himself the Junior World Champion title!
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen