Ukraine’s brilliant BILODID becomes the youngest world judo champion in history

Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept 20, 2018: 48kg, Ukraine’s brilliant BILODID becomes the youngest world judo champion in historyParis Grand Slam gold medallist Daria BILODID (UKR) was crowned the Daria BILODID youngest world judo champion in history with a sensational performance in Baku.

Daria BILODID youngest world judo champion Daria BILODID youngest world judo champion

The 17-year-old, who had already won five won IJF World Judo Tour events this season, won the world title at her second attempt and added her name to record books.

BILODID beat the record set by all-time great TANI Ryoko (JPN) who was 18 when she won her first world title in 1993.

TANI went on to win seven world titles – at a time when the event was held every other year – and five Olympic medals and is widely considered as the greatest female judoka of all time.

Defending world champion TONAKI Funa (JPN) lost out to BILODID for the third time this year when she was caught with the Ukraine’s favoured o-uchi-gari for ippon.

BILODID rushed off the mat in tears to jump into the arms of her mother who is her matside coach.

TONAKI lost out to her arch-rival at the Paris Grand Slam and Zagreb Grand Prix in the semi-finals and failed to come up with an answer to the ippon judo of the new face of the -48kg category.

The new world champion has now won 30 contests in a row.

In the first semi-final TONAKI came from behind to defeat former world champion MUNKHBAT Urantsetseg (MGL).

The second semi-final Olympic champion Paula PARETO (ARG) fell to the exceptional teenager BILODID (Daria BILODID youngest world judo champion).

In their first ever meeting it was the Ukrainian who set the pace in a fascinating contest between the long-time face of the category and the new ace of the category.

BILODID, who was seven years old when PARETO won bronze at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, scored a waza-ari from an o-uchi-gari with 40 seconds left on the clock and there was no way back for the Argentine who did not look 15 years senior to her superstar rival.

Argentine ace PARETO will be an Athlete Role Model at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games in October.

In the second bronze medal contest former teammates collided as Olympic bronze medallist Otgontsetseg GALBADRAKH (KAZ) renewed her acquaintances with MUNKHBAT (Daria BILODID youngest world judo champion).

Final Results

1. BILODID, Daria (UKR)
2. TONAKI, Funa (JPN)
3. PARETO, Paula (ARG)
3. GALBADRAKH, Otgontsetseg (KAZ)
5. COSTA, Catarina (POR)
5. MUNKHBAT, Urantsetseg (MGL)
7. FIGUEROA, Julia (ESP)
7. STANGAR, Marusa (SLO)

MEN -60kg: Japan’s TAKATO retains his red backpatch with his third world title victory

Defending world champion TAKATO Naohisa (JPN) successfully retained his red backpatch and won Japan’s first gold medal in Baku.

The Tokai University judoka extended his unbeaten run to 35 contests with a narrow win over Düsseldorf Grand Slam silver medallist Robert MSHVIDOBADZE (RUS) in the final.

TAKATO produced the only score of the final as he prodded his Russian opponent with a ko-uchi-gari for a waza-ari and is firmly in pole position in the race for Tokyo 2020 for his country with one World Championships to go before the Games.

In the first semi-final TAKATO Naohisa (JPN) outlasted teammate NAGAYAMA Ryuju (JPN) in golden score.

The Olympic bronze medallist caught his colleague with a ko-uchi-gari for a match-winning waza-ari after 16 seconds of additional time.

In the first bronze medal contest PAPINASHVILI thwarted Junior World Championships silver medallist Karamat HUSEYNOV (AZE) to deny the hosts a medal on day one of their first World Judo Championships.

World number 51 Karamat HUSEYNOV (AZE) had produced the upset of the morning session as he conquered Olympic champion Beslan MUDRANOV (RUS) by countering for ippon.

In the second bronze medal contest Asian Games bronze medallist LEE Harim (KOR) had a battle of attrition with NAGAYAMA.

As the host country Japan do not have to quality any judoka and have the right to pick anyone in the 14 weight categories.

Final Results

1. TAKATO, Naohisa (JPN)
2. MSHVIDOBADZE, Robert (RUS)
3. PAPINASHVILI, Amiran (GEO)
3. NAGAYAMA, Ryuju (JPN)
5. MSHVIDOBADZE, Robert (RUS)
5. LEE, Harim (KOR)
7. KIM, Yong Gwon (PRK)
7. TAKABATAKE, Eric (BRA). —- Photos © IJF Media by M. Mayorova and G. Sabau