Georgian team equal senior performances

The Junior World Championships in Ljubljana saw an unforgettable energetic team event on Sunday. The men’s team competition featured 16 teams of five judoka while the women’s team competition featured 15 teams of five judoka.

Host Slovenia took part in the men’s event and provided some of the best moments of the day as the crowd urged them on in their spirited pursuit of a medal.

As the competition gathered pace judo fans saw Georgia emerge in the men’s event and Japan come to the fore in the women’s event. In a repeat of the 2013 World Championships in Rio, the brightest talents from Georgia and Japan matched their senior team’s gold medal-winning achievements in the third and final World Championships of the year.

Just like the seniors it is Georgia to take the world team title. In the final their opponent was the surprising Greek team. Greece struck first as Gela KELIKHASHVILI (GEO) lacked his usual composure and accumulated four shido penalties to gift victory to Georgios AZOIDIS (GRE) by hansoku-make.

Georgia responded immediately as Phridon GIGANI (GEO) defeated individual bronze medallist Roman MOUSTOPOULOS (GRE) by a waza-ari and yuko. Georgia went ahead for the first time in the final as Ushangi MARGIANI (GEO) pulled through against individual gold medallist Alexios NTANATSIDIS (GRE) with a waza-ari from a uki-goshi.

Despite the Georgian coach also being sent away from the floor for being overzealous his team confirmed the gold medal when individual champion Beka GVINIASHVILI (GEO) and bronze medallist Levani MATIASHVILI impressively won their contests by ippon for a 4-1 rout.

The first bronze medal was captured by Japan as they silenced the hopeful home fans by defeating Slovenia 4-1. Japan only tasted defeat in the second contest where MARINCIC (SLO) saw off IWABUCHI (JPN) by a waza-ari. Before leaving the tatami the Slovenian team bowed towards all four sides of the arena to show their appreciation for the fanatical support they received.

The second bronze medal was won by Ukraine who steamrolled the Netherlands 4-1 as the ippon judo flowed. Both teams had a great day with surprising victories. Ukraine defeated Mongolia and Holland beat Japan convincingly by 4-1 in the quarter final.

Three European women’s teams on world stage

France took the initiative as individual bronze medallist Amandine BUCHARD (FRA) fired them in front with a waza-ri from an uchi-mata in the last 30 seconds.

 Japan restored parity as Amelie GUIHUR (FRA) was beaten by DEGUCHI Christa (JPN) with a harai-goshi yielding ippon with one minute remaining. Silver medallist TSUGANE Megumi (JPN) gave Japan the lead after throwing Lindsay TSAN SAM MOI (FRA) with a ippon seoi-nage for ippon. Fellow silver medallist ARAI Chizuru (JPN) suffered a defeat to bronze medallist Margaux PINOT (FRA) on shido penalties with two against the Japanese and one against the Frenchwoman to level the match.

Gold medallist INAMORI Nami (JPN) won the winner-take-all contest against bronze medallist Madeleine MALONGA (FRA) as she countered a ouchi-gari with a thunderous ura-nage for ippon.

The first bronze medal was won by Croatia who stunned Russia 4-1. With the contest in the balance the Matic sisters provided much needed inspiration with bronze medallist Brigita winning the fifth contest by a waza-ari from a sankaku-gatame.

Germany defeated Brazil by the same score to win the second set of bronze medals. Gold medallist Sappho COBAN (GER) gave them the perfect start by seeing off Jessica PEREIRA (BRA) with a koshi-jime in the repeat of the individual final. Nadja BAZYNSKI, bronze medallist Szaundra DIEDRICH and silver medallist Carolin WEISS added further wins.

Ahead of the final block there was a passing of the flag ceremony where Bogdan GABROVEC, Slovenian Judo Federation President, returned the IJF flag to Marius L. VIZER, IJF President, who in turn passed it to Mike SWAIN, USA Judo representative and Olympic bronze medallist, as the 2014 Junior World Championships will be held in USA.