Day 2: Brazil Storms to First Place

Results -48 kg

The first contest of the afternoon session saw Germany’s Charlotte Nettesheim face Nycolly Carneiro for a bronze medal in the -48 kg category. As they approached the mat, Brazil’s coach, Olympian Maria Portela gave her judoka a big hug and some last words of encouragement which perhaps fuelled the attitude of Carneiro. She came out like a rocket and threw for waza-ari with a seoi-otoshi after only 40 seconds, following up with a fast o-uchi-gari, a near miss. Carneiro’s ability to produce just enough kuzushi for each attack was quite remarkable for such a young judoka, standing her in good stead for a podium finish. A second throw finished the job in the last 30 seconds and her medal was secure, a bronze to add to her continental silver from earlier in the year.

Maria Camila Bermudez (COL) and Barbara Twarowska (POL) fought fro the second medal of the category. A long ne-waza exchange was the decider, the Polish fighter earning osage-koi several times but allowing her foot to be trapped by Bermudez each time, until a major change in position and technique gave her the 20 second hold she needed.

In the final Jamsran (MGL), ranked 14th in the world, faced Clarice Ribeiro (BRA), ranked third. An almost hidden, it was so fast, o-uchi-gari from the Brazilian lodged the first score on the board at the halfway point in a contest that maintained an impressive pace from the first ‘hajime.’ Jamsran put up a good fight but couldn’t claw the score back. Ribeiro was the new cadet world champion.

Results -60kg

At -60 kg Arkhipov (IJF) made short work of his bronze medal contest, picking up his opponent, Galo (HUN) and throwing him cleanly for ippon in the first 40 seconds of the contest. The second medal may not be assigned quite so quickly!

Merabli Samadashvili (GEO) faced Jakub Kurowski (POL) and it was an acrobatic affair with to-and-fro exchanges keeping spectators on the edge of their seats, no clue as to who might eventually find the score. At full time a couple of penalties were logged but nothing decisive. In the end it was a counter to a counter which took the prize to Poland, another illustration of the gymnastic ability of both athletes.

In the final, just like every previous match in the final block so far, Yang and Yamamoto really went for it, totally focused on winning rather than avoiding the loss, an important distinction. Yang at tenth in the world should have been confident of beating Yamamoto at only 164th but no-one should ever discount the ability of the Japanese, regardless of ranking.

Strong, positive kumi-kata was a marker in this fight, both able to manage the distance and create openings, Yang for his seoi-otoshi, Yamamoto for his uchi-mata and transition. Eventually it was the former which scored, prompting acceleration from Yamamoto but Yang dealt with it, continuing to attack no matter what. The time ran out for the Japanese and the USA had a new cadet world champion.

This was a magnificent contest. Perhaps we can even say at this early stage that it is in the running for contest of the tournament!

Results -52kg

The -52 kg medal contests began with Janka Juttner (HUN) facing Elise Rustige (NED) for the first of two bronze medals. The Hungarian looked to be edging it but with 30 seconds to go Rustige threw with a beautifully timed seoi-otoshi and then rode out the clock. The bronze would be painted orange this evening!

Nicole Marques (BRA), ranked 70th in the world, stood in the second medal contest as a testament to the strength of the Brazilian team. They did not arrive in Lima to play and every member of their team has shown skill, determination and resilience throughout. Kozolva (IJF), her opponent, was ranked 64 places above her but the Brazilian was unfazed. AT first Marques attacked frequently but without precision whereas Kozolva took the time to prepare stronger attacks. However, the Brazilian had the right feeling in the fight and after 90 seconds she placed a neat seoi-otoshi between the feet of Kozlova and scored waza-ari. It was reciprocated though and the contest went into golden score with a waza-ari apiece on the board. The medal was then decided via penalties in favour of Marques.

Rodrigues, a second medallist in the category for Brazil, following two medals for the country at -48 kg too, was not concerned by the Japanese flag on the chest of her opponent. She attacked first, most frequently and without fear. It wasn’t until she received her second penalty that Oi (JPN) found the pace of the fight and 13 seconds into golden score she threw with uchi-mata to become world cadet champion, the first for Japan at this championship. Rodrigues’ medal would be silver.

Results -66kg

At -66 kg the first two competitors on to the mat in this final block were Inoyat Telmanov (UZB) and Baptiste De Araujo (FRA), almost going to the former immediately via an opportunistic osae-komi but the Frenchman escaped. He wasn’t free for long though as two throws came in quick succession, the closer being a seoi-otoshi, to send Uzbekistan their first medal of the tournament.

Boris Jankovic (SRB) and Vasili Gamezardashvili (GEO) stepped up for their chance to stand on the podium but for the first three and a half minutes, neither could make headway. With 15 seconds to go thought, the Georgian picked his opponent up but made the mistake of putting him down again instead of trying to finish the throw. From there Jankovic switched direction and threw with sumi-gaeshi to earn himself and Serbia a world bronze medal.

Parchiev (IJF) and Givishvili (GEO) dominated their category in the morning session and deserved their respective places in the world cadet -66 kg final. Parchiev won when they met in the final of the European Cadet Championships only a few weeks ago but in Lima it was the Georgian’s day. He out-attacked his opponent and remained positive throughout, earning himself the title of world cadet champion.

What a day that was! Yang (USA), Ribeiro (BRA), Givishvili (GEO) and Oi (JPN) are the new world champions and among all the medallists of the day, from just 4 categories, Brazil claimed 4 medals: a gold, a silver and two bronzes. That jumped them to the top of the medal table, making a statement of intent for the mixed team competition on day 4.

Tune in at 10:30am on day 3 to catch the first contests of the penultimate day of the individual event. JudoTV is ready for you.