Where is Russia's promise Mikhail Igolnikov

Last week Mikhail Igolnikov was on the list for the IJF Masters. Recently he last competed at the Oceania Open in Perth, Australia. His journey halfway around the world, was well rewarded as he came away with 700 points, elevating him to 11th in the World Rankings at U90kg, sitting comfortably in pole position for Russia in the Olympic qualifying zone. This week he was kept out of the list for the Masters in Qingdao.

Whilst having a quiet year on the IJF circuit in 2019,  Mikhail Igolnikov has only lost once this year, in the Dusseldorf Grand Slam, where the Russian went on to take the Bronze medal in that event. His other outing being at the teams event at the World Championships, where he won his two matches helping Russia take the Bronze medal.

Aside from these IJF events, Mikhail who is according to sources, a Lieutenant in the Russian Special Forces, won the Military World Championships and led his team to the Gold medal.

As he sets his sights towards Tokyo and the 2020 Olympics, hoping to emulate fellow Circassians Vladimir Nevzorov, and Beslan Mudranov who took Gold at half middleweight in the 1976 Games in Montreal, and Gold in Rio 2016 at -60kg respectively, he looks a shoo-in for selection and not many who have followed his progression since Cadet level, would bet against him.

Mikhail Igolnikov was born on October 15, 1996 in the city of Tuapse in the Krasnodar region of Russia, though If you ask him, he proudly identifies himself as Adyghean, a Circassian enclave in the North Caucasus, the land of his forebears. A pupil of the Tuapse School of Judo, he trained under the guidance of Dzhanbolet Naguchev.

Igolnikovs transition to senior was as expected, for anyone who had followed his illustrious youth career. In 2018 he won the Senior European Championships in Tel Aviv, beating then current Senior World Champion, Nemanja Majdov in the Final, he added the Dusseldorf Grand Slam title, and the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam and helped his team to third place in the World Team Championships in Baku.

His judo style is sublime, like a watch maker, timing, precision and balance personified. He has uncanny anticipation and great counter attacks.

In some memorable contests against the best of his peers, he has usually come out on top. Against Gviniashvili, He is currently 3:1. Where Beka’s style is a sledgehammer through a jewellers shop window, Mikhail brings the finesse of a safecracker, his probing left sided Uchi mater, reminiscent of Vitaly Makarov in his pomp, a skeleton key which opens any lock. Everyone knows it’s coming but few seem able to avoid it.

He is 3:0 against 2017 World Champion and 2019 World Bronze medalist Nemanja Majdov. He has faced current World No. 1, Spaniard of Georgian descent Nikoloz Sherazadishvili six times leading in those matches 4:2.

Nemesis of the champions

He’s had some losses along the way but they are few and far between. His only loss this year was to Japan’s Sanshiro Murao in February at the Düsseldorf Grand Slam where the Russian went on to win Bronze.

In what is for me, the most stacked division on the current roster, wins are never assured and in a sport as capricious as judo, there are no dead certs. Even Ono loses once in a blue moon.

As the seeded players await the draw, they could be forgiven for having one thought at the forefront of their minds. Who gets Igolnikov in their bracket. Never discount Mikhail Igolnikov, for you can guarantee, none of his opponents are. We hope to see him back at the Tel Aviv Grand Prix in January, although we estimate that the Olympic Games are far away for Igolnikov given the Russian ban.