–90kg: Macedo on Top After a Hard-Fought Day
Top seed Rafael Macedo (BRA) developed his route to the semi-final step by step. After a first-round bye, he overcame Daniel Paz Albarracín (COL) with a perfectly timed sweeping technique for ippon. In the following round, facing Boris Rutovic (SRB), he produced a standing seoi-otoshi of remarkable power and amplitude, another clean ippon.
In the semi-final, he met Italy’s Tiziano Falcone, who had caused an upset earlier in the day by defeating one of the seeded athletes, Vugar Talibov (AZE), with an immobilisation. The semi-final was tense with victory seeming to hang in the balance. Trailing on the scoreboard, Macedo fought his way back into the contest and forced the bout into golden score. After a few uncertain attacks, including a yuko which was withdrawn under review, he finally managed to score a decisive waza-ari, earning his place in the final.
In pool C, Alexis Mathieu (FRA), twice a medallist at the World Judo Masters, seemed to have a clear path to an ideal start in the tournament. However, in his opening contest he was caught by surprise by a sharp uchi-mata from Peru’s Yuta Galarreta, who threw him for ippon. Still stunned as he left the tatami, Mathieu had to concede defeat. In the next round, Galarreta fell to Cristiano Mincinesi (ITA) who began to dream of a place in the final. That dream, however, was short-lived. In the semi-final he was stopped by Murad Fatiyev (AZE).
The final was therefore set: Rafael Macedo (BRA) versus Murad Fatiyev (AZE), a clash between judoka with experience, power and determination.
–78kg: Lobnik and Issoufi Reach the Final
Being the top seed in the –78 kg category proved to be a clear advantage today, as Metka Lobnik (SLO) progressed to the final steadily. After a first-round victory over Sairy Colón (PUR) by waza-ari-awasete-ippon, the first score coming from a tsuri-komi-goshi, the second from a kesa-gatame on the ground, she continued her efficient run. In the next round, she defeated Coralie Godbout (CAN) with a single waza-ari, scored from a neat seoi-otoshi. In the semi-final, Lobnik showed her precision and control once again, overcoming Marie Branser (GUI) with a powerful right-sided seoi-otoshi for ippon in under a minute. Calm and confident, she booked her place in the gold-medal contest.
In the lower half of the draw, all eyes were on Inbar Lanir (ISR), a world champion and clear favourite to reach the final, but in a stunning turn of events she was defeated in the opening round by Kaila Issoufi (FRA), who executed two consecutive sumi-gaeshi attacks for two waza-ari scores, a precise and indisputable victory. Buoyed by confidence, Issoufi continued her impressive day, defeating Karol Gimenes (BRA) in the semi-final, thanks to yet another score from her now-signature sumi-gaeshi, this time for a yuko. The final was thus set between Metka Lobnik (SLO) and Kaila Issoufi (FRA), a promising technical showdown between the composed Slovenian and the inspired young French judoka riding a wave of momentum.
–100kg: An All-Brazilian Domination
The –100 kg category was packed with contenders for the final and right at the top of the draw stood Leonardo Gonçalves (BRA), the favourite. He opened his day with a tactical win over Daniel Liubimovski (USA), securing a solid start to his campaign. In the next round, facing Martin Bezdek (CZE), he was far more decisive, claiming victory in under thirty seconds with a compact but ruthlessly effective te-waza. In the semi-final, Gonçalves met Aurélien Diesse (FRA), who had earlier eliminated Daniel Eich (SUI). Though Diesse fought valiantly, the Brazilian clearly had the upper hand and advanced to the final convincingly.
Naturally, in the lower half of the draw all eyes were on Zelym Kotsoiev (AZE), the Olympic champion. He was determined not to repeat the misfortune of his teammate Hidayat Heydarov, who had stumbled the day before, especially since Kotsoiev, also risked meeting a French judoka early on. In his opening contest, he faced Lazar Zdrale (SRB) and had to wait until golden score to secure the win with a waza-ari. Next came Fares Mekhoukh (FRA). Kotsoiev took a waza-ari lead with a clean hip movement, immediately followed by a hold-down, which gave him some breathing room.
In the semi-final, he met the second Brazilian in the category, Giovani Ferreira, who proved to be a tough opponent. Kotsoiev, visibly tired, struggled to find rhythm and position for his trademark attacks. Ferreira seized his chance, scoring yuko to tip the balance and take the victory. The Olympic champion would have to settle for the possibility of bronze, while Giovani Ferreira advanced to join his compatriot Leonardo Gonçalves in an all-Brazilian final.
+78kg: Hershko Leads the Pack to Another Final
Looking at the list of competitors in the +78 kg category, one name stood out clearly: Raz Hershko (ISR). A world medallist and Olympic finalist, she entered the event as the undisputed favourite. Yet, as is often the case in judo, being the favourite does not guarantee an easy path and it certainly wasn’t! In her opening contest, Hershko faced Fernanda Quimbira (ANG). The Israeli judoka dominated throughout, scoring yuko three times, first with sode-tsuri-komi-goshi, then tani-otoshi and finally seoi-otoshi, before sealing victory by ippon through a hold-down in the closing seconds. It was a demonstration of both patience and technical versatility.
In the semi-final, Hershko was matched with Grace-Esther Mienandi Lahou (FRA), a newcomer to the senior international circuit but already a promising product of the formidable French heavyweight school. Earlier, Mienandi Lahou had defeated Hershko’s compatriot Yuli Alma Mishiner, in her opening contest. The semi-final proved to be a tight, tactical affair with no scores recorded during normal time. Hershko, however, managed the contest intelligently, maintaining control and securing a strategic victory to advance to yet another final.
On the other side of the draw, it was Emma-Melis Aktas (EST) who earned her spot in the gold-medal contest, defeating Asya Tavano (ITA) in their semi-final bout. The final would therefore feature Raz Hershko (ISR) and Emma-Melis Aktas (EST), a clash between the seasoned Israeli powerhouse and the rising Estonian challenger eager to make her mark.
+100kg: Krpálek and Buzacarini Set for the Last Final
Ushangi Kokauri (AZE) entered the competition hoping to make the most of his number 1 seeding position in the +100 kg category. Things began well for him, as he opened with a win against José Nova Alcántara (DOM), scoring ippon on the ground after already leading by yuko. In the next round, he faced a seasoned veteran of the World Judo Tour, Rafael Buzacarini (BRA). Determination spoke louder this time; Buzacarini seized his chance with a perfectly timed o-uchi-gari, earning a yuko after just 1 minute and 26 seconds. From there, he managed the contest intelligently to book his place in the semi-final. There, Buzacarini met Giannis Antoniou (CYP) and once again his signature o-uchi-gari made the difference. Another yuko, another step forward, the Brazilian advanced confidently to the final.
In the lower half of the draw, the hierarchy was respected perfectly. Both top favourites, Yevheniy Balyevskyy (UKR) and the indomitable Lukáš Krpálek (CZE), reached the semi-finals without incident. Krpálek, as solid and composed as ever, imposed his rhythm throughout, leaving no room for doubt about his dominance. The final was thus set between two experienced and powerful judoka: Rafael Buzacarini (BRA), the ever-determined fighter, and Lukáš Krpálek (CZE), a true legend of world judo.