Japanese junior men beat Georgia in world final

Same as the women, agains Japan and Georgia were opposed in the team final. In the 2013 edition in Ljubljana the Georgians won, but for the second time in a row it was Japan. The Japanese youngsters routed Georgia in the junior men’s team final 5-0 as they swept the board in the team competition with men’s and women’s success as they did a year ago in Fort Lauderdale. In the first contest Asari Masaya (JPN) defeated Tornike Nagliashvili (GEO) by ippon before Yamamoto Yuji (JPN) of Tenri University eked his way past Tamaz Kirakozashvili on shido penalties (2:3).

Fujiwara Sotaro (JPN) bested Levan Gugava (GEO) by a waza-ari to seal gold for Japan.

Mukai Shoichiro (JPN) shaded Giorgi Gvelesiani (GEO) by way a shido penalty given to the Georgian while Tanaka Genta (JPN) brought the Junior World Championships to a close by throwing Giorgi Lazuashvili (GEO) for ippon.

In the semi-finals Japan were given a thorough test by Uzbekistan who were leading 2-1 and had a spot in the gold medal match within their grasp. Asari (JPN) held down Matyakubov (UZB) for 20 seconds to give Japan the lead but Uzbekistan fired back to win the next two contests. Shomurodov defeated Yamamoto Yuji (JPN) by ippon after two minutes of golden score and Bobonov then saw off Fujiwara (JPN) on shido penalties (1:2) to put Uzbekistan on the brink of advancing to the final. With the Japanese contingent in the crowd looking uncharacteristically nervous, Mukai (JPN) was the calmest person in the IPIC Arena as he trapped Khurramov (UZB) with a modified kami-shiho-gatame hold to restore parity. Tanaka (JPN) then thundered his way past Bahodurzoda (UZB) in the heavyweight contest with a beautiful tai-otoshi after 62 seconds for ippon.

In the second semi-final Georgia were made to graft by a hard-working Egypt team who have made an unprecedented impact at the Junior World Championships in Abu Dhabi. Leading contenders Georgia did not need any favours from their opponents but profited from two consecutive hansoku-make committed by the surprise outfit to race to a 2-0 lead which gave them one foot in the finals. Georgia’s winning-streak continued until the fifth and final contest when Wahid (EGY) defeated Tushishvili (GEO) by a yuko as consolation for Egypt who moved into the repechage final.

The first set of bronze medals were captured by Russia who were rampant against Egypt as they won 4-1. With a 4-0 lead and gold already secured, Egypt’s heavyweight Ahmed Wahid stepped up and saved same pride against Ruslan Shakhbazov (RUS) by ippon. The second set of bronze medals went to Belarus who beat Uzbekistan 3-2. Dzmitry Minkou, Yahor Varapayeu and Daniel Mukete all struck for Belarus by ippon in the first, third and fourth contests respectively.

Yuji Yamamoto, Shoichiro Mukai and Yusei Ogawa won the title last year as well. Ryuju Nagayama (u60kg) and Masaya Asari (U66kg) won both the World title individual as the team event.

Japan won the team title in the cadets, juniors and seniors. Total domination is never good for a sport, but nature will likely arrange a solution.