In the -48kg category, the top seeds proved their worth and Natsumi Tsunoda of Japan claimed her third consecutive world title, demolishing her opposition with an unstoppable tomoe-nage. France’s world number 1, Shirine Boukli, made her mark at a world championships for the first time, taking a well-deserved silver medal, utilising her favourite o-goshi to great effect. The bronze medals were won by Wakana Koga, also of Japan, and Assunta Scutto (ITA). This was a second world bronze medal for each of the players, showing that these young talents are here to stay.
At -60kg, where the incumbent world champion Naohisa Takato (JPN) was looking to add an incredible 5th world title to his collection, there was drama aplenty. In round 2, the French Olympic bronze medallist, Mkheidze, was knocked out in a thrilling contest with Jorre Verstraeten (BEL). In round 3, both the world number 1 and 2, Yung Wei Yang (TPE) and Balabay Aghayev (AZE), exited the competition early; Yang at the hands of 20-year old Nurkanat Serikbayev (KAZ) and Aghayev thanks to Younes Saddiki (MAR), who produced an uchi-mata which was a contender for throw of the day.
In the end, a new world champion was crowned. Francisco Garrigos (ESP), threw reigning champion Takato twice, waza-ari-awasete-ippon, in the semi-final, before throwing surprise finalist Baratov (UZB) in golden score in the final.
Garrigos, while still young, is a veteran performer on the World Judo Tour and will be ecstatic to finally stand on the top of the podium at a world championships, the first time in many years that a lightweight Spanish athlete has done so.
Harim Lee (KOR) took the first bronze medal with a tactical victory, sending reigning champion Takato home in 5th place. The second bronze medal was won by 19-year-old Giorgio Sardalashvili (GEO), who came out the victor in a near 10-minute contest with Jorre Verstraeten (BEL), who himself placed at a world championship for the first time.
Despite the setback of Takato not making it onto another world championship podium, Japan still tops the medal table on day 1, with one gold and one bronze, ahead of Spain in 2nd place. It is still early days but with Japanese firepower still to come, it will be hard to bet against them holding on to the top spot for the remainder of the tournament.
The lightweights kicked off this year’s championships in style, producing their usual dynamic, attacking judo. Next up, it’s the turn of the -52kg and -66kg categories to continue to delight judo fans all over the world with their incredible skills. Don’t forget to tune in at judotv.com to catch all the action, including the opening ceremony, which will be broadecast live for the first time.
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