Aibolat Ystybay continues Kazakh lightweight world gold

Italy was so successful last week at the EYOF with five gold medals. This week at World Level Italy has to bow for two better judoka and take silver twice. One of them was Biagio D’Angelo (ITA) who was unable to seal a second international title after his EYOF title last week, in as many weeks as the U50kg category was ruled by two-time Cadet European Cup bronze medallist Aibolat Ystybay (KAZ). D’Angelo won the EYOF last week in Tbilisi, Georgia, and arrived in Sarajevo as one of the favourites.

For the talent factory Kazakhstan it is the second World title in a row. Last edition in 2013 in Miami Bauyrzhan Zhauyntayev claimed gold U55kg. Maxim Rakov was the first Kazakh ever to take a World title (seniors) in 2009. Kazakhstan is familiair for its lightweight judoka in all ages.

The 16-year-old Italian went behind to a yuko score after one minute and 20 seconds a buoyant Ystybay then countered the Italian for ippon and Cadet World gold.

In the first semi-final Ystybay (KAZ) defeated Cadet European Championship silver medallist Giorgi Niazashvili (GEO) by a waza-ari while in the second semi-final D’Angelo (ITA) denied Cadet Asian Cup winner Bayanmunkh Narmandakh (MGL) a route into the final by a yuko score.

The first bronze medal was claimed by Cadet European Team bronze medallist Kazbek Naguchev (RUS) who beat Niazashvili (GEO) through osaekomi. The second bronze medal went to Bayanmunkh Narmandakh (MGL) who scored a last-ditch waza-ari against Joao Paulo Correia (BRA) to book a place on the podium.