Junior athletes have their own world ranking, which gives valuable insight into their competitive strength. However, the nature of this age group also brings unpredictability. As we already mentioned, among the competitors, 27 judoka are experiencing their first-ever global event. Others already move between junior and senior categories and a few are even still cadets, such as Brazil’s Nicole Marques, who won bronze at the Sofia Cadet Worlds this summer and remarkably took the junior world title in Lima. The Brazilian squad also shone through Gyovanna Andrade, a late qualifier who seized her opportunity brilliantly and took a bronze.
What makes junior competition so exciting is precisely this element of uncertainty, the surprises, the breakthroughs and the promise of greatness that can appear in every round.
The second day in Lima proved just as thrilling as the first, full of drama, comebacks and storylines worthy of the big screen. In a few years’ time, we may look back on these championships as a turning point in the careers of future stars of world judo.
In the -63 kg category, Japan’s So Morichika demonstrated remarkable patience and control to overcome Viktoriia Martynenko (IJF) in a tactical final, earning another gold for her nation. India’s Linthoi Chanambam made history by winning bronze, a landmark result for Indian judo, while Savita Russo (ITA) claimed the second bronze with a spectacular ippon.
The -70 kg category delivered swift and decisive action. World number one April Lynn Fohouo (SUI) stormed to gold with a lightning-fast sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi in the final against Aleksandra Andric (SRB). Teophila Darbes-Takam (FRA) and Jana Cvjetko (CRO) took the bronze medals, confirming once again the depth and diversity of talent in this division.
At -73 kg, Tajikistan celebrated an historic moment as Muhiddin Asadulloev stunned top seed Keito Kihara (JPN) in the semi-final before claiming the gold medal against Ryusei Arakawa (JPN) in a fiercely contested final. Irakli Goginashvili (GBR) and Renat Croitoru (MDA) rounded out the podium with their bronzes.
Finally, in the -81 kg division, Haru Akita (JPN) captured Japan’s fifth gold medal of the tournament after a tense and technical battle against Akhmed Turluev (IJF). The bronze medals went to Mihajlo Simin (SRB) and Samariddin Muxibiddinov (UZB), both earning hard-fought victories in their last contests of the tournament.
Each contest in Lima added a new chapter to the story of this generation, talented, ambitious and fearless. In a few years’ time, we may look back on these championships as the moment when many of judo’s future stars first made their mark on the world stage.