Ryoma Tanaka triumphs in lightning-fast men's -66kg Final

In a swift and decisive final, Ryoma Tanaka emerged victorious over Takeshi Takeoka, securing the gold medal in the men’s -66kg category at the Abu Dhabi World Championships 2024. The final bout, which lasted less than a minute, showcased Tanaka's impressive skill and strategy. He first executed a clever uki-otoshi counter to throw Takeoka and later used a low, driving o-uchi-gari to score waza-ari-awasete-ippon, becoming the new world champion at just 22 years old.

Despite the continued prominence of Japanese legends Hifumi Abe and Joshiro Maruyama, who have dominated this weight class in recent years, their absence from Abu Dhabi opened the door for new talent. Abe and Maruyama's illustrious careers, including victories at the Hungary Masters 2023 and the Paris Grand Slam 2024 respectively, hint at Japan's deep pool of judo talent, with Tanaka potentially being their successor.

Finnish medallist Saha makes History

The surprise of the day came from Finland, where Luukas Saha claimed a bronze medal, marking only the second world medal for the country since Juha Salonen’s bronze in 1981. Saha's impressive form saw him dispatch Nurali Emomali in just over a minute with a hara-zutsumi to secure the ippon. This victory not only earned him a place on the podium but also guaranteed his qualification for the Olympic Games. Saha's journey to the bronze included victories over Moudetere (ZAM), Gerchev (BUL), and Bouba (FRA).

Margvelashvili Secures Bronze with Last-Minute Ippon

In the contest for the second bronze medal, Vazha Margvelashvili faced off against Italy’s Matteo Piras. The match was tightly contested, but Margvelashvili clinched victory with a sasae-tsurikomi-ashi ippon in the final 30 seconds, earning his second world bronze medal. Despite Piras's loss, his fifth-place finish ensures his selection for his first Olympic Games at age 30.

Path to the Final

Tanaka's path to the final saw him first defeating Martin Setz (GER) with a sode-tsurikomi-goshi in round 1. In round 2, he overcame Tal Flicker (ISR) with a seoi-nage waza-ari scored in the last minute. Facing fourth seed Willian Lima in round 3, Tanaka won a tactical match as Lima accumulated three penalties by two minutes into golden score.

Upsets and Early Exits

The -66kg category in Abu Dhabi saw many top-seeded players fall early. World number one Denis Vieru (MDA) lost to Daiki Bouba (FRA) in the second round, while fifth seed Yashar Najafov (AZE) was defeated by 2015 world champion An Baul (KOR). Eighth seed Alberto Gaitero Martin (ESP) was knocked out by Obid Dzhebov (TJK), highlighting the unpredictable nature of the competition. The Abu Dhabi World Championships 2024 provided a thrilling showcase of judo talent and unexpected outcomes. Ryoma Tanaka's rapid victory in the final and Luukas Saha's historic bronze medal were standout moments. As the tournament progresses, fans can look forward to more exciting matches and potential upsets in the coming days. Time to enjoy the medals, and prepare for the main course in Paris.