Slovak Patricia Tomankova shines once more with another gold

The Cadet World Judo Championships in Lima witnessed an electrifying start as the girls division U44 kg was dominated by Slovakia's Patricia Tomankova, the top seed and reigning world number one for the past two years. Tomankova's journey to the final was virtually unchallenged, reflecting her dominance in the division. With two world cadet medals already under her belt, bronze in Sarajevo in 2022 and gold in Zagreb in 2023, Tomankova was on the verge of adding another gold to her collection. Her victory in the European cadet championships earlier this year further cemented her status as the favorite.

Joining Tomankova in the final was Juliana Yamasaki of Brazil, the second seed, ensuring that the final would be a high-quality contest between the top two judokas in the division.

In the -40 kg category, the competition followed the seeding almost perfectly, with all four top seeds making it to the semifinals. The only surprise was the lack of surprises, as the matches played out according to expectations. Aiora Martin Carriches of Spain, the number one seed, defeated Italy's Aurora Ferro, the fourth seed, to advance to the final. She was joined by France's Mathilde Aurel, who overcame Sandra Walendzik of Poland, the third seed, to secure her place in the gold medal match.

Slovakia's rising judo star and now double Cadet World Champion, recently visited the Paris Olympic Games with Jozef Tomanek, the President of the Slovak Judo Federation. At just 18 years old, Tomankova has already made significant strides in her judo career, boasting three continental titles and two world gold medals. Her visit to Paris was both an inspirational and educational experience, allowing her to witness top-level judo firsthand and envision her own future on the Olympic stage.

Tomankova was particularly inspired by Sweden’s Tara Babulfath, who won a bronze medal in the -48kg category at the Olympics, making history as Sweden’s first Olympic judo medalist. Babulfath’s achievement, especially at such a young age, resonated with Tomankova, fueling her determination to reach similar heights in her career.

With the Cadet World Championships just around the corner, Tomankova is focused on defending her title while carrying the motivation she gained from her Olympic experience. She hopes to follow in the footsteps of Jozef Krnac, Slovakia’s only Olympic judo medalist, who won silver at the 2004 Athens Games.

Tomankova is driven to make her own mark in judo with her sights set on the 2028 Olympic Games. Her journey in Paris has reinforced her belief that with hard work and dedication, she can achieve her dream of becoming an Olympic champion and adding to Slovakia’s judo legacy.

Toptygin's Remarkable Run

Russian judoka Aleksei Toptygin was competing under the flag of the International Judo Federation (IJF), showcased exceptional skill and determination in the -50 kg category. Despite being unseeded, Toptygin made a strong statement in his opening matches, demonstrating that rankings are not always indicative of success.

In his first-round contest, Toptygin executed a flawless tai-otoshi, a sweeping hand throw, leaving spectators and opponents alike in awe of his technical prowess. His performance was not just a flash in the pan; in the second round, he faced the number one seed and once again proved his mettle by securing another victory. This win propelled him into the quarterfinals, where he continued his impressive run.

Toptygin's journey did not stop there. In the quarterfinals, he faced Husiyeev from Azerbaijan, the fourth seed, who had been a favorite to reach the finals. However, Toptygin was relentless, defeating Husiyeev and advancing to the semifinals. Husiyeev, now relegated to the repechage bracket, would have to fight for a bronze medal later in the day.

The Seeds Struggle

The upsets continued in the -50 kg category as the second seed, Carlos Filho from Brazil, also fell earlier in the competition, failing to make it to the final rounds. This left only the third and fourth seeds to carry the torch for the top-ranked judokas. However, with Husiyeev's loss to Toptygin, only Pereira of Brazil, the third seed, managed to reach the semifinals and eventually secured his spot in the final. Pereira, unlike his fellow top seeds, cruised through his half of the draw, setting up an exciting showdown with Toptygin in the gold medal contest.

Mamishov's Pursuit of Another Title

In the -55 kg category, last year's -50 kg champion, Nihad Mamishov, was back in action, this time competing in a higher weight class. The Azerbaijani judoka proved that his success was no fluke, as he tore through his opponents from Canada, Poland, and Hungary to reach the semifinals. There, he faced the second seed, Khazar Heydarov of Ukraine, in a highly anticipated match. Mamishov's experience and skill shone through as he defeated Heydarov to book his place in the final, setting the stage for a potential second world cadet title.

Mamishov's opponent in the final would be Bat-Enerel Batbileg from Mongolia, who displayed immense determination and grit in his morning matches. Batbileg's path to the final was marked by hard-fought victories, and his matchup against Mamishov promised to be a thrilling contest.