Mukhammadsodik Sodikov third junior world champ for Uzbekistan ever

The Kasri tennis Arena in Tajikistan saw once a again some big surprises at these junior world championships at the fourth and last day of the individual tournament. In the final U100kg Sodikov (UZB) and Miki (JPN) got down to work. The first shido went to the Uzbek for stepping out and he stayed under pressure from that point on.

Opposing styles and rhythms made for an excellent fight, fast and technical. Sodikov was unpredictable and this eventually caught Miki off guard, a tomoe-nage flying in underneath him, catching him for a waza-ari with less than two minutes to go.

With 32 seconds left Sodikov earned a shido for blocking and at 26 seconds another came for stepping out. Miki put too much pressure on though and Sodikov chased him out of the area with a close call, a tani-otoshi that would have scored had the grips been more functional. The pace was high, very high but Sodikov held his ground for the last 8 seconds to become junior world champion against all predictions. Japan would have to settle for silver on a day without a gold medal for their team.

The first bronze medal contest began at a pace, Mekhoukh attacking first. Arsenie (ROU) withstood the barrage right up until the last half minute but then Fares Mekhoukh turned in and threw with a massive sode-tsuri-komi-goshi. It was ippon, the mark of a world medallist.

In the second bronze medal contest, Ali Reza Nikseresht (IRI) and Azhdar Baghirov (AZE) met. Gripping infringements opened the contest but once the rhythm settled the attacks came. With a minute to go, Nikseresht attempted to turn in but Baghirov countered for waza-ari. He then held his ground and forced a third penalty for his opponent. Baghirov had a great day and leaves with a medal as his reward.

Joes Schell (NED) had high hopes at the beginning of the day and had a high ranking in advance, but in judo anything can happen and he was dispatched via two throws from Azhdar Baghirov (AZE) who proceeded to run all the way to the semi-final.

Maxence Bordin of France should have met Baghirov in that semi-final but he was ejected from the competition by Rares Arsenie (ROU) who also then lost, beaten by Sodikov (UZB), the fifth seed. Bordin’s teammate did make it further though. Fares Mekhoukh defeated Damian Kubiak (POL) in the pool C final to step into a semi-final against Nozomu Miki (JPN) who had a flawless run through the preliminary rounds.

In the first semi-final the Uzbek athlete had the measure of Baghirov, countering his every move and logged two waza-ari scores to book his place in the final.

The second semi-final was a traditional match-up between France and Japan and it was Miki of Japan who took the win. He threw with a rising right uchi-mata for waza-ari and controlled the kumi-kata until the bell.