The third day of the OTG Group Cadet World Judo Championships 2025 in Sofia delivered pure fire on the tatami. Four weight categories were in play: girls -57kg and -63kg, and boys -73kg and -81kg. By the end of the day, Uzbekistan still reigned supreme on the medal table, strengthening their tally with another gold, while Europe snatched nine more medals, two of them golden.
Veljko Varnicic (SRB), world number one in the -73kg category, marched onto the mat with only one goal: the world title. Five contests later, the Serbian prodigy stood tall as cadet world champion.
His road to glory was nothing short of dramatic. Against Tal Bruzhanitsky (ISR), a sharp o-soto-gari yuko followed by a clean osae-komi-waza sent him through. Next, in a golden score nail-biter bout with Mahammad Aghakishiyev (AZE), just as his opponent repositioned for ura-nage, Varnicic pounced with a perfectly timed ouchi-gari, sealing the win.
The quarter-final brought the day’s most heart-stopping turnaround. Trailing by yuko against Bobodzhon Sharopov (TJK), and with the clock ticking down, Varnicic pulled off a last-gasp turnover into hold-down. Within seconds, Sharopov had no choice but to tap. In the semi-final, Lowan Le Bris (CAN) pushed Varnicic into golden score, yet, a lightning sumi-gaeshi from the Serbian proved unstoppable. That left the ultimate showdown: the final against Keisho Mitsuishi (JPN).
Facing Japan on the big stage is always a test of nerve. At cadet level, with so little head-to-head experience, the unknown factor looms large but Varnicic showed no fear. An uchi-mata into yoko-sumi-gaeshi combination sent Mitsuishi crashing; the referee first called ippon, then downgraded it to waza-ari after review. No matter, Varnicic stayed in command. The Japanese ace never found his rhythm, and Serbia’s young star claimed the crown, adding the cadet world title to his European gold from June.
Europe’s Medal Haul
Varnicic wasn’t the only one flying the European flag. Vasil Gamezardashvili (GEO) joined him on the -73kg podium with bronze. In the -57kg class, Magdalena Walega (POL) earned a well-deserved bronze, the only European on that podium. The -81kg category was a triple European triumph: Giorgi Mumladze (GEO) with silver, and Tajus Babaicenko (LTU) with Timur Aliev (IJF) claimed bronzes. In the girls’ -63kg, the gold went to Aishat Alieva (IJF), whilst Ilariia Tsurkan (SLO) was right behind with silver, and Chloe Jean (FRA) with bronze.
With just one day left in the individual competition, four more weight categories await on day four. Expect nothing less than high emotions and explosive judo as one of the final pieces of the Sofia 2025 puzzle fall into place. Don’t miss a moment, watch live on judotv.com.
Images: IJF/ Gabriela Sabau and Emanuele Di Feliciantonio
Author: Szandra Szogedi