ABU DHABI // Tamerlan Bashaev was still dazed after stepping off the podium with a gold medal hanging around his neck.
Bashaev made a dramatic comeback to win the 100kg+ final over Japan’s Genta Tanaka, Russia’s second gold on final day of the junior categories at the International Judo Federation (IJF) Junior World Championships on Monday night at the Ipic Arena.
“I’m still trying to recollect how I did it,” Bashaev, 19, said after the presentation ceremony. “I thought it was all over when he scored the opening point. I don’t know how I did it, but I did it. Thanks god, thanks to my parents, and thanks to my coaches in Moscow.”
Tanaka, the junior Bremen Masters winner, scored from a foot sweep for a yuko score but Bashaev replied with force and a waza-ari, and then preserved the lead until the end.
“This was my first appearance in the World Junior and my biggest achievement in judo up to now,” said Bashaev, a second-year physical education student at Moscow University.
“I came to this competition on the back of a first-round defeat in the Cadet Championship in Miami last month. That result got me motivated for the Abu Dhabi event.
“I won’t be able to defend my junior title because they don’t conduct the event on the Olympic year. But I have my long-term objective to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.”
Bashaev’s teammate, Niyaz Ilyasov, 20, had earlier given Russia their first gold in the 100kg and under weight division. “I won a silver last year and to sign off with the gold in the World Junior is a real good result on my CV,” Ilyasov said.
Brigita Matic took the junior women’s 78kg and under final ahead of Slovenia’s Klara Apotekar, while Wakaba Tomita gave Japan their sixth gold of the championships, defeating Camila Nogueira of Brazil in the 100kg+ final.
“It is my first gold medal in two appearances in the World Junior and I’m thrilled,” said Matic, 19.
“Like always, the competition was tough. My opening opponent was from Japan [Kyoka Sato] and the next was Larissa Groenwold whom I lost to in the European Junior.
“The first time in the World Junior I won a bronze and the following year I was forced to miss it because of injury. So winning the gold in Abu Dhabi is a great result.”
After the conclusion of the 16 weight categories for individual junior men and women, the championship concludes with the team event today, also at the Ipic Arena at Zayed Sports City, starting at 10am.
apassela@thenational.ae
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