The Junior World Championships 2017, a proven breeding ground for unearthing the sport's next generation of stars, started on Wednesday with the four lightest weight categories gracing the tatami at Zagreb's Dom Sportova Arena.
The first day in the capital city saw the junior men on -55kg and -60kg duty as they launched their World medal bids along with the junior women who took part in the -44kg and -48kg divisions.
Georgia's PAPINASHVILI conquered the world at -55kg on day one
Day one saw 127 judoka (79 men, 48 women) in action as Japan wasted no time in stamping their name on the competition as they won two gold medals from the four weight categories.
Therefore judo's founding nation sits top of the medal table with one bronze medal in addition to their two gold medals while Georgia are second with one gold medal and a fifth-place and the Netherlands in third position with the remaining gold medal.
Social media landmark in Zagrebas the hashtag appears on judogi for the first time
Zagreb marked a social media first for the IJF and judo as the official event hashtag was displayed on the IJF branded judogi for the first time.
The IJF has a leading presence on social media with over 750,000 fans on Facebook alone while #Judo was the world's leading trend on Twitter during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Starting with the Junior World Championships, which has attracted 590 judoka and 83 nations, all judoka whose kit does not meet the specified requirements (e.g size) have to wear a plain IJF branded suit which now displays the #JudoZagreb2017 hashtag on the back of the jacket.
Cameroon's Gabriel Pascal KAMAJOU TANKOUA (in white) became the first ever judokato wear a judogi featuring a hashtag
Judo is one of the first sports to include a hashtag on an athlete's kit and will be the first to permanently embrace the social media world to this extent as the hashtag will now be present on all spare judogi at every IJF event.
#JudoZagreb2017 also featured on the advertising boards around the tatami
The competition continues on Thursday with the -66kg and -73kg male categories which will be featured along with the -52kg and -57g female categories.
Azerbaijan's YUSIFOV (in blue) throws BOQIEV (white) of Tajikistan with a ura-nage in -60kg third round action
JUNIOR WOMEN
-44kg: Japanese dynamo KUBOI takes opening gold in Zagreb
Junior Asian Championships winner KUBOI Nina (JPN) propelled Japan to the top of the medal table after the first final in Zagreb and may retain control of the medal table for the remainder of the week. KUBOI, 16, was one of the youngest judoka in the competition, but in typical Japanese fashion, age and experience rarely comes into the equation when the talent is such that any medal and any competition is deemed winnable to all Japanese. KUBOI executed a beautiful turnover to pin down her Kazakh opponent but Abiba ABUZHAKYNOVA (KAZ) escaped having given away a waza-ari score. The Japanese judoka matched the outcome of the Junior Asian Championships final by showing her superiority to her leading rival by returning to osaekomi for 20 seconds as ABUZHAKYNOVA tried everything to escape but KUBOI maintained a vice-like grip this time around.
In the first semi-final ABUZHAKYNOVA (KAZ) defeated Cadet Pan American champion and Junior Pan American champion Laura FERREIRA (BRA) by a waza-ari score with a makikomi effort. In the second semi-final KUBOI held down Junior Asian Championships silver medallist Gulnur MURATBAEVA (UZB) for ippon to storm into the final of the lightest weight category in the competition.
The first bronze medal was awarded to Junior European Championships silver medallist Lois PETIT (BEL) who held down MURATBAEVA with a sankaku-gatame. The Belgian judo became the first medallist in the competition by showing her prowess in osaekomi-waza and, after being awarded the contest, sprinted off the mat into the arms of her coach in celebration.
The second bronze medal was won by Junior European Championships bronze medallist Kristina BULGAKOVA (RUS) over FERREIRA. Russia's BULGAKOVA led by a waza-ari with 17 seconds left but was not content with that leading margin and threw for ippon to round off a fine display.
Final
ABUZHAKYNOVA, Abiba (KAZ) vs. KUBOI, Nina (JPN)
Bronze Medal Contests
PETIT, Lois (BEL) vs. MURATBAEVA, Gulnur (UZB)
BULGAKOVA, Kristina (RUS) vs. FERREIRA, Laura (BRA)
Final Results
1. KUBOI, Nina (JPN)
2. ABUZHAKYNOVA, Abiba (KAZ)
3. BULGAKOVA, Kristina (RUS)
3. PETIT, Lois (BEL)
5. FERREIRA, Laura (BRA)
5. MURATBAEVA, Gulnur (UZB)
7. BERINGER, Fatime (HUN)
7. JO, Son Hyang (PRK)
-48kg: Familiar junior rivals contest final as Netherlands' GERSJES beats Spain's MARTINEZ
Junior European champion Amber GERSJES (NED) was crowned Junior world champion on Wednesday as the Dutch ace now rules the continent and the world. GERSJES bested Junior European Championships silver medallist Laura MARTINEZ ABELENDA (ESP) as the continental adversaries became rivals on the world stage. A statement ensured for the four minutes of regulation time and an additional two and a half of minutes was required to separate the two European starlets when a third and final shido against MARTINEZ ABELENDA gifted the final and the gold medal to GERSJES. Both judoka appear to have the potential to make a splash on the senior stage in the coming years and that could come as soon as the IJF World Judo Tour's 2018 season as their junior jousting could turn into a long-term storyline in the next Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualification period which opens in May next year.
In the first semi-final MARTINEZ ABELENDA (ESP) edged out 18-year-old Melissa HURTADO MUNOZ (CUB) by a waza-ari in regulation time to win the all-Spanish speaking contest. In the second semi-final GERSJES conquered two-time senior European Cup winner Marusa STANGAR (SLO) by a waza-ari score to seal a place in the gold medal contest.
The first bronze medal was clinched by STANGAR who returned to winning ways with a narrow win over former Cadet Asian Championships winner Akmaral NAUATBEK (KAZ) by a waza-ari score.
The second bronze medal was won by HURTADO MUNOZ who fought back from being a waza-ari down to hold down 20-year-old uchi-mata specialist Daria PICHKALEVA (RUS) for ippon with a kesa-gatame.
Final
MARTINEZ ABELENDA, Laura (ESP) vs. GERSJES, Amber (NED)
Bronze Medal Contests
NAUATBEK, Akmaral (KAZ) vs. STANGAR, Marusa (SLO)
PICHKALEVA, Daria (RUS) vs. HURTADO MUNOZ, Melissa (CUB)
Final Results
1. GERSJES, Amber (NED)
2. MARTINEZ ABELENDA, Laura (ESP)
3. HURTADO MUNOZ, Melissa (CUB)
3. STANGAR, Marusa (SLO)
5. NAUATBEK, Akmaral (KAZ)
5. PICHKALEVA, Daria (RUS)|
7. HIDALGO LEDO, Celia (ESP)
7. TYNBAYEVA, Galiya (KAZ)
JUNIOR MEN
-55kg: PAPINASHVILI pips peers for Georgian victory
Junior European Cup silver medallist Jaba PAPINASHVILI (GEO) sent his country's flag to the rafters and his stock to an all-time high by winning the first male final in Zagreb. PAPINASHVILI had too much attacking threat for former Junior European Championships winner Natig GURBANLI (AZE) as he launched a series of committed movements that troubled the Azeri. The Georgian produced two waza-ari scores which went unanswered and that concluded the scoring as one more country was off the mark in Croatia.
In the first semi-final 20-year-old Worlds debutant Vano NINIASHVILI (GEO) felt to GURBANLI who threw the Georgian for a waza-ari score and then held him down for ippon. The Azeri was the first judoka to book a placxe in the final on day one in Zagreb. In the second semi-final PAPINASHVILI (GEO) bested Junior Asian Championships winner Bauyrzhan NARBAYEV (KAZ) by a waza-ari after 39 seconds of golden score.
The first bronze medal was claimed by NARBAYEV after a highly-competitive clash against teammate and former Cadet Asian Championships winner Damir BOLATBEKOV (KAZ). NARBAYEV struck in golden score with his second waza-ari to finish ahead of his countryman and as Kazakhstan's representative on the -55kg medal podium.
The second bronze medal went to 20-year-old LKHAGVAJAMTS Unubold (MGL) who was urged on by Mongolian legend KHASHBAATAR Tsagaanbaatar. The Mongolian defeated NINIASHVILI by taking control of his opponent with pure te-waza in a move that the great KHASHBAATAR himself would have been proud of.
Final
GURBANLI, Natig (AZE) vs. PAPINASHVILI, Jaba (GEO)
Bronze Medal Contests
BOLATBEKOV, Damir (KAZ) vs. NARBAYEV, Bauyrzhan (KAZ)
LKHAGVAJAMTS, Unubold (MGL) vs. NINIASHVILI, Vano (GEO)
Final Results
1. PAPINASHVILI, Jaba (GEO)
2. GURBANLI, Natig (AZE)
3. LKHAGVAJAMTS, Unubold (MGL)
3. NARBAYEV, Bauyrzhan (KAZ)
5. BOLATBEKOV, Damir (KAZ)
5. NINIASHVILI, Vano (GEO)
7. ISAEV, Adam (RUS)
7. MONORI, Daniel (HUN)
-60kg: SUGIMOTO stays undefeated for Japan as KOGA junior chalks up bronze
The largest weight category on day one -- with a whopping 47 judoka - saw Japan come to the fore as 19-year-old All Japan Junior Championships winner SUGIMOTO Taigo (JPN) was the source of his country's second gold medal. SUGIMOTO rose to the occasion in his first IJF event as he defeated 19-year-old Junior European Championships winner Karamat HUSEYNOV (AZE) after 30 seconds of golden score. The Japanese trapped his Azeri foe with a kesa-gatame hold for 20 seconds and the biggest victory of his career.
In the first semi-final HUSEYNOV shocked former Cadet World Championships winner KOGA Genki (JPN) with a reverse seoi-nage for ippon. In the second semi-final Junior Pan American Championships winner Robson PENNA (BRA) succumb to SUGIMOTO. The Japanese built a significant advantage with two waza-ari scores without reply before holding down the Brazilian with a kesa-gatame for 20 seconds.
The first bronze medal was won by 20-year-old Worlds debutant JAGVARALDORJ Amarbold (MGL) who earned his country's second medal of the day by pinning down PENNA in osaekomi for 20 seconds.
The second bronze medal went to KOGA who showed his character to beat two-time Junior European Cup winner Ayub BLIEV (RUS) under the gaze of the World Championships as murmurs of his name and his famous father spreading around the venue. Whether it's fair or unfair, KOGA junior cannot escape his name, the legacy of his father and the immense level of expectation that comes with carrying the family name. The 18-year-old submitted BLIEV with an intricate piece of shime-waza to win his second World Championships medal and to add to the family legacy while he has time to work on all areas of his game before coming back to compete at the Junior Worlds in future years.
Final
HUSEYNOV, Karamat (AZE) vs. SUGIMOTO, Taigo (JPN)
Bronze Medal Contests
JAGVARALDORJ, Amarbold (MGL) vs. PENNA, Robson (BRA)
BLIEV, Ayub (RUS) vs. KOGA, Genki (JPN)
Final Result
1. SUGIMOTO, Taigo (JPN)
2. HUSEYNOV, Karamat (AZE)
3. JAGVARALDORJ, Amarbold (MGL)
3. KOGA, Genki (JPN)
5. BLIEV, Ayub (RUS)
5. PENNA, Robson (BRA)
7. EZ ZERRAD, Naoufal (BEL)
7. YUSIFOV, Ahmad (AZE)
COMPETITION PROGRAMME
Thursday 19 October
10:00 Preliminaries on three mats
17:00 Final block on two mats
Junior Women: -48kg, -52kg
Junior Men: -60kg, -66kg
Friday 20 October
10:00 Preliminaries on three mats
17:00 Final block on two mats
Junior Women: -57kg, -63kg
Junior Men: -73kg, -81kg
Saturday 21 October
10:00 Preliminaries on three mats
17:00 Final block on two mats
Junior Women: -70kg, +70kg
Junior Men: -90kg, +90kg
Sunday 22 October - Mixed Team Competition
11:00 Preliminaries on three mats
17:00 Final block on two mats
Location: Dom Sportova