All Japanese World Junior final U52kg Oi defeats Nosho

In a full Kasri Tennis Arena Iroha Oi (JPN) and Senju Nosho (JPN) met in a complicated final for women U52kg t the World Junior Championships in Dushanbe. The contest was neither slow nor without action but they amassed two penalties each in normal time and went into golden score, both at risk. The final shido went to Nosho for a defensive grip break and so Oi was now double world champion, world titles in cadets and juniors within 5 weeks. This is quite an achievement and points to an exciting senior future.

The first bronze medal contest of the third category of the day was Mio Huh’s (KOR). She countered an attack from Aliyeva (AZE), having already secured a grip to neutralise the Azerbaijani’s impulse. A smile beamed across Huh's face.

In the second medal contest, Alyssia Poulange (FRA) and Rafaela Rodrigues (BRA), already decorated in the cadet age band, tussled. In the second minute, Poulange secured a hold but Rodrigues worked hard to escape, just avoiding going a score down. However, at the end of the third minute, Poulange again found a gap in which to work and tied the Brazilian up for an ippon hold.

Poulange takes a junior world bronze medal to add to her 2023 cadet world silver and two cadet continental medals.

One name that is familiar to the local crowd is that of Madina Qurbonzoda. She stole the hearts of the Tajik people when she placed 7th in the 2023 Dushanbe Grand Prix at only 15 years old. She is now back in her own capital city to fight on the most prestigious junior stage and she will have the backing of the crowd, the city and the country.