Khubulova, Ozbas and Sulca promising Youth Olympic Champions

Young impressive athletes at the second day of the Youth Olympics Games in Buenos. Even the lighter judoka gave a strong impression and set new highlights in their young careers. Gold medals for Romania, Russia and Hungary

Russian Irena Khubuleva won Youth Olympic gold against Mongolian Sosorbaram Lkhagvasuren in the category U52kg after she took over the Mongolian in the first minute. The impressive Russian won all her contests and was European Cadet Champion this year U48kg and won four European Cups but in a category higher she topped at her career highlight so far. Cuban Nahomys Acosta Batte defeated one of the favourites for gold in the bronze final, Veronica Toniolo of Italy. The Cuban led by wazari and defended her lead for bronze. Nilufar Ermaganbetova of Uzbekistan claimed a wazari after a minute in her contest for bronze against Sairy Colon Rodriguez (PUR) and scored another quickly and took bronze.

Adrian Sulca of Romanian took the Olympic gold in one minute U81kg. He made a drop seoi nage against Martin Bezdek as his first serious attack and was immediately successful. The lightweight won European Cadet bronze U73kg in June but now won gold in this tough category. Sulca became the successor of Mikhail Igolnikov (RUS) who won in 2014.

Canadian Keagan Young defeated Slovak judoka Alex Barto. Young who came back strongly via the repechage and also won his last exciting battle although he needed to golden score. It was the first Youth Olympic Games medal for Canada ever. Jessica Klimkait took a fifth place four years ago in Nanjing. Dutchman Mark van Dijk won bronze against Ahmed Rebahi of Algeria. The Dutchman won silver at the Cadet Europeans, Rebahi is African Champion.Rebahi countered the Dutchman after two minutes in the contest, but the tall Van Dijk came back with seoi nage in the last minute. In the golden score he added his second wazari and won bronze following up Frank de Wit who won bronze for the Netherlands in 2014.

The gold U63kg was captured by 16-year old Szofi Ozbas of Hungary. Ozbas steps into the footlight of Szabina Gercsak (HUN) won the Youth Olympic title in 2014. Ozbas outbalanced Mariem Khlifi in the golden score in a tight final against the African Cadet and Junior Champion. Belgian Alessia Corrao Turkish defeated Hasret Bozkurt of Turkey for the bronze by oseikomi after it was Bozkurt who led the match in the first minute. 2017 Cadet World Champion U57kg Kim Ju-Hee bested Nicole Pencue in the second bronze contest.