History had a sense of déjà vu in the -100kg category, as Jakob Vares (EST) and Milan Bulaja (SRB) squared off once again in the final. Just like last year, the outcome leaned the same way, Bulaja on top, yet what stood out just as much was Vares’ unmistakable display of genuine sportsmanship.
So what went down in the showdown? One word: dominance. Bulaja controlled the tempo, gradually tightening the screws until he found just the right moment. With a surge of pressure, he tipped Vares off balance and launched across a powerful maki-komi, driving both of them deep into the tatami for a clear ippon. The two rose together, sharing a celebratory embrace as if to say: ‘Brother, we have done it again.‘
Bulaja then leapt from the mat, joining the roar of his Serbian teammates. Catching him afterwards, thanks to the translation help of fellow European Champion, Mihajlo Simin, he shared more of his story:
Milan Bulaja:
“I’m from Zrenjanin in the Vojvodina region, not Belgrade. I was strong from a very young age.”
Mihajlo Simin:
“He’s not exaggerating. He had abs when he was a kid! Always a gym guy. Off the mat, on the mat, big thrower.”
Bulaja:
“My favourite throws are sode-tsuri-goshi and uki-goshi. Honestly, I felt no pressure coming in. Confidence, yes. Being European Champion again is incredible. Every new title is special, not just for me but for our whole team. Mihajlo is even my translator here,” – he laughs.
Simin:
“He’s a machine. The biggest man in Belgrade, well, not from Belgrade, but still! His nickname is Buki. It sounds sweet, but believe me, he is massive.”
Bulaja:
“I felt great, though my quarter-final against Boldyriev (POL) was the hardest. I can wait, stay patient, then strike with a big throw. That’s my style. Next stop? The Junior Worlds in Lima this October, maybe also the Grand Prix there. Beyond that, we’ll see. For now, I’m just going to enjoy this because it feels amazing.”
Meanwhile, a Georgian duet Giorgi Bendeliani and Nodari Alapishvili, rounded off the podium with matching bronze celebrations, sealing a memorable day for their team.
Author: Szandra Szogedi