-73kg: From European to World Champion for Galandarzade

Let's make no mistake, Jack Yonezuka, despite having distant Japanese ancestry, is indeed American, and it was he who offered himself a place in the final after the first rounds, leading with flying colours, where both his work on the ground and his abilities in tachi-waza allowed him to progress in the tournament. Already a bronze medallist in Guayaquil in 2022, Jack Yonezuka confirms that he is a quality junior, whose training hours pay off when the time is right.

It is also not surprising to see him getting closer to a significant senior world ranking. Currently 38th in the senior ranking, he is 3rd in the juniors. The coming months will be decisive for Olympic qualification.

In the meantime, he still had to face Vusal Galandarzade (AZE), coming from the first half of the draw. The normal time did not give the opportunity to designate a winner, both judoka taking limited risks. Ovisouly, last year’s junior European champion, Galandarzade, was waiting for a massive pick-up, while Yonezuka was hoping for a moment on the floor to catch his opponent.

It was eventually 10 seconds into golden score that Galandarzade chose to dive under Yonezuka with a seoi-nage that propelled the American on his back for ippon. This is a well deserved win for Vusal Galandarzade and a well deserved silver medal for Jack Yonezuka, who represents the next generation of athletes who will bear the flag of the USA in Los Angeles in 2028.

In the first match for a bronze medal, Abubakr Sherov (TJK) and Keito Kihara (JPN) faced each other to step on the podium. Kihara had the pressure of potentially being the first Japanese judoka to not win a medal, while for Abubakr Sherov the motivation was multiplied. As Kihara was coming closer to throwing with a massive pickup, Sherov changed direction totally and with a sutemi-waza scored a waza-ari. Despite Kihara's pressure, the Tajik managed to keep the score and win the bronze medal.

It was the Belgian Mouhammad Gazaloev (BEL) who faced Adilet Almat (KAZ) in the second match for a bronze medal. Gazaloev opened the account with a superb and aerial uchi-mata for waza-ari. The second waza-ari was not far away with another impressive uchi-mata, sending the bronze medal to Belgium and Mouhammad Gazaloev.