Xinran Hui fifth Junior world champion ever for China

In an all-Asian final of the women’s U48kg division in Dushanbe, Xinran Hui (CHN) took on Sachiyo Yoshino (JPN). Each of the finalists began their day in unseeded positions and had to pass the biggest names in the category. They did and they did it well. Both brought pace and technical ability to the Kasri Tennis Arena, making for a high speed final.

No score was registered during the first three minutes but with exactly 60 seconds to go, Hui received a first shido for passivity. Her answer was to throw immediately, a spinning sumi-gaeshi, earning a waza-ari and eventually a gold medal. The first title of the event belongs to Hui and the Chinese team, the silver landing in Japan’s corner. Hui is the fifth ever Junior world champion for her country, the first since 2006.

In the first bronze medal contest of the afternoon block, 2024 senior European champion Kristina Dudina (IJF) made light work of her task, countering Valeriani (ITA) almost immediately and holding her down. She had two waza-ari scores on the board before even 30 seconds had passed to claim the first medal of this junior world championship.

Clarice Ribeiro of Brazil took the second bronze medal almost without blinking. She threw Szabina Szeleczki (HUN) twice, comfortable, to dominate the scoreboard and take a first medal for the Brazilian team. The young women of Brazil are beginning to be a real force of world judo at both cadet and junior level. There is a lot of skill and a lot of heart, a winning combination.