Somon Makhmadbekov rewarded for great season

Tajikistan celebrates its first World Champion. At the Junior Worlds Somon Makhmadbekov in Marrakech the Tajik captured the gold. In the only men's category of the day, it was Somon Makhmadbekov, fifth at the last senior World Championships, who was in the final against Russian Georgii Elbakiev, silver medallist of the last Budapest Grand Prix, on the World Judo Tour.

A first shido was quickly awarded to Makhmadbekov for a cross guard, but he was nonetheless the most dangerous on his first attacks with opposite lapel in o-soto-gari, or in o-uchi-gari. But Makhmadbekov scored a superb ippon, while he remained perfectly balanced on his feet to counter the movement of Elbakiev.

The first match for the bronze medal took place between Italian Edoardo Mella and Brazilian Jeferson Santos Junior (BRA), bronze medallists at the last Junior Pan American Championships. It was a fight of strong men, who do not let anything go and gripped the public. It was not until the golden score that the Italian finally found a small opportunity to counter the Brazilian and score a waza-ari bringing him the bronze medal.

The second bronze medal contest was played out between Victor Sterpu (MDA) and Samuel Gassner (AUT). The contest was fast as less than a minute was necessary for Sterpu to immobilize his opponent after a confusing sequence in tachi-waza which could have offered the victory to either side.