Russians again dominate U100kg category but Adamian is unbreakable

When the Russians want to be, they can be relentless. Arman Adamian and Matvey Kanikovskiy neutralised an entire battalion of elite troops in the always tricky –100kg category. It is true that Adamian was the favourite, but it is no less true that he had to face Belgian Toma Nikiforov, who has been on the rise since he recovered from a serious injury. Nikiforov may be fearsome, but today Adamian is out of Nikiforov’s reach. A special mention for Kanikovskiy because he got rid of the French Alezandre Iddir, the Dutch Michael Korrel and the Canadian Shady Elnahas, that is, the past, present and future of judo. None of them could stop the Russian in Abu Dhabi

Adamian dominated and baby-faced Kanikovskiy fought back until he couldn't take it anymore and suffered in his flesh that which began as ko-soto-gake and ended as ura-nage. Adamian ends the year with three consecutive victories, in Zagreb, Paris and Abu Dhabi and the leadership of the category. He is only 24 years old and he is already a prodigious judoka.

“I had to win this medal. I couldn’t take part in the Olympics and I had to prove that I should continue towards the next Games. I won the last three tournaments I took part in and I will work hard to be in Paris in 2024,” declared Adamian.

More was expected of Shady Elnahas in Baku, where he finished second and much more in Abu Dhabi, because he has judo to spare and because he himself declared that he wants to overcome Fonseca, Adamian, Paltchik and Liparteliani. He will have to wait and improve because he does not yet have the level required for the great occasions against the best. In Abu Dhabi he fought for the bronze against the German Falk Petersilka and Elnahas took the lead because in absolute terms he is better. Still they reached golden score where the Canadian successfully executed uchi-mata.

Then two old acquaintances appeared, Korrel and Nikiforov for the second bronze, as if it were a vintage combat; these two have been on the WJT for a decade. It could have been the final but that's how judo is and the years don't go by in vain. Korrel is the current European champion and started as a favourite. There was no surprise and the Dutchman scored twice for waza-ari with the same technique, seoi-nage.