-66 kg: Mati’s Magnificent March to Gold / IJF.org

As the curtain rose on the second day of competition at the Coliseo Voltaire Paladines Polo, Anes Mati (CAN), as the highest ranked in the top quarter of the world cadet championship draw at -66 kg, was aiming at a place in the final. His arrival there at the end of the preliminary session was not too big a surprise. His opposition in that final was less anticipated though as the second seed was beaten by unseeded Georgian Giorgi Kapanadze.

Final: Anes Mati (CAN) vs Giorgi Kapanadze (GEO)

Giorgi Kapanadze had a brillinat morning session but Anes Mati brought an extraordinary will to win to Guayaquil. He feels judo superbly well and can seem to find any and every way to get his opponent’s back on the tatami.

Anes Mati (CAN) and Giorgi Kapanadze (GEO).

Mati earned a first yuko with a ko-uchi-gake and doubled his lead a few moments later. Kapandze was in real trouble and needed to find some inspiration. He did all he could and actually managed to claw back a single yuko but it was almost at the end of the contest and Mati was not going to allow that to happen twice. The Canadian won the title; he impressed all day!

the first ko-uchi-gake.

After the final, Anes Mati said, “It feels like a dream! Coming in as Pan-American champion, managing that pressure was hard because everyone expects you to win. After injuries and losing early in European cups, winning today proves I'm at this international level. Now I’m going to celebrate with food and call my parents. I especially want to thank my dad, the best dad ever!”

Bronze medal contest: Giorgi Avaliani (GEO) vs Tom Simkhaev (ISR)

Giorgi Avaliani was determined to give everything for this world medal but in his rush to win, he lost precision and offered a focused Tom Simkhaev more chances than he should have.

Tom Simkhaev (ISR) takes the win.

Simkhaev scored first with a de-ashi-harai but then countered for ippon fairly soon after, taking the medal in emphatic fashion.

Bronze medal contest: Yerik Ussenov (KAZ) vs Kantemir Khuranov (RUS)

Despite his obvious ability, Kantemir Khuranov has a casual style that was partially to blame for his only loss in the preliminary session. In the final block, he refocused and found a better rhythm, one which caused Yerik Ussenov some big problems. Struggling to keep up, the Kazakh judoka was penalised twice in normal time.

Yerik Ussenov's (KAZ) masterstroke.

In the golden score period, the status quo was upheld, Khuranov continuing to lead most exchanges but after two minutes, 6 in total, Ussenov caught the end of Khuranov’s sleeves and threw with a massive sode-tsuri-komi-goshi to take the medal, completely against the run of play. It was a masterstroke!

Medals, cheques and flowers presented by PJC Development Director and Vice Minister for Sports of Ecuador Mr Roberto Ibanez, and IJF Referee Supervisor Mr Mariano Dos Santos.

Final (-66 kg)

MATI Anes (CAN) vs KAPANADZE Giorgi (GEO)

Bronze Medal Fights (-66 kg)

AVALIANI Giorgi (GEO) vs SIMKHAEV Tom (ISR)

USSENOV Yerik (KAZ) vs KHURANOV Kantemir (RUS)

The -66 kg podium.

Final Results (-66 kg)

1. MATI Anes (CAN)

2. KAPANADZE Giorgi (GEO)

3. SIMKHAEV Tom (ISR)

3. USSENOV Yerik (KAZ)

5. AVALIANI Giorgi (GEO)

5. KHURANOV Kantemir (RUS)

7. TODOROV Vladimir (BUL)

7. GARAYEV Ilkin (AZE)