What a great day again, with six new countries on the medal table, winning gold. In total 12 countries captured a desired gold medal at the European Judo Championships U23 in Chisinau, starting with Italy in the -81kg category where the nation continued to set the tone.
Italian judoka Manuel Parlati (21) was dominant throughout the day, and in the final of the -81kg category he overcame Omar Rajabli of Azerbaijan. Parlati secured the second gold medal for Italy at this tournament, making the Parlati family even prouder. Next year this championship will be held in Naples, Italy, the hometown of the Parlati’s.
The contest truly came alive in the second minute when both athletes scored a yuko. In the final minute, Parlati made the decisive move. Neither fighter hesitated to take risks but it was Parlati who scored another yuko forty seconds before the end with an o-soto-gari, maintaining his composure and strategy until the end.
Parlati was outstanding today, earning victories over Ondrej Zita, Rory Tyrell, Bernd Fasching in the quarter-final, and Aris Zaragkis in the semi-final. Italy had already celebrated 18 European champions in this age group but never in the -81kg category, not even by his cousin Christian Parlati, the senior European Champion in the -90kg. For Manuel, this was his first major international medal and he celebrated it in true Italian style.
After the disappointment at the Lima Grand Prix, where injuries and setbacks tested his resolve, Parlati’s return to the top felt like a personal triumph. “Back then, I was struggling physically,” he admitted. “But this time, I was ready. I wasn’t afraid to take risks. Maybe next time at home I will be back to defend my title, in Naples in 2026.”
The Austrian bronze medal bout featured Bernd Fasching and Magamed Borchashvili, two athletes who know each other extremely well. Sharing rooms during training camps, they are practically brothers in arms, and their fight began cautiously. It took exactly 100 seconds of golden score before Fasching managed to score, earning himself a well-deserved bronze on the eve of his 22nd birthday.
Georgia’s Kote Kapanadze quickly took the lead with a wazari in his bronze medal contest against Aris Zaragkas of Greece. Zaragkas had earlier surprised Vusal Galandarzade of Azerbaijan in the quarter-final but fell to Parlati in the semi-final. Midway through regular time, Kapanadze sealed the victory to claim bronze. Not gold like last year, still, a third consecutive medal for the Georgian after gold in 2022 and bronze in 2023.
Latisev Lifts the Roof for Moldova
The brand-new venue erupted when Mihail Latisev stepped onto the tatami for the final against Giorgi Jabniashvili of Georgia. Latisev, last year’s champion in Pila (Poland), once again fought his way to the final with exciting, attacking judo. Jabniashvili, meanwhile, was in superb form, having grown stronger with each round. Latisev is the 2022 Junior World Champion in the -81kg category.
The home crowd demanded a gold medal but Jabniashvili, the 2024 IJF Grand Prix Linz winner, was not fazed by the pressure. The contest was tight through regular time, with both judoka evenly matched. Seventeen seconds into golden score, Latisev attempted a change of direction but was countered perfectly by Jabniashvili, who scored yuko for the win. Silver this time for Latisev, who graciously thanked the crowd for its passionate support.
Moldovan judo continues to ride a wave of enthusiasm following the country’s two Olympic bronze medals in Paris from Denis Vieru (-66kg) and Adil Osmanov (-73kg). Latisev’s silver and the electric atmosphere in Chișinău gave the sport another boost at home.
Vojin Mandic of Serbia triumphed on the ground against Lasse Schriever, holding him for 20 seconds to secure a bronze medal. Mandic, who had lost to Aslan Kotsoev in the quarter-final, came back strongly in the repechage, defeating Pedro Lima of Portugal and Schriever to earn Serbia’s third medal of the tournament.
The other bronze bout saw an all-Azerbaijan clash between Vugar Talibov and Aslan Kotsoev. Both are seasoned competitors on the IJF World Tour but only one could claim a medal. Despite two penalties, Kotsoev managed to score with a seoi-nage, 45 seconds into golden score, taking the bronze. Still only 19, Kotsoev continues to impress after winning the EYOF title in 2023.
Udsilauri Delivers for Germany in the -100kg Final
George Udsilauri made history for Germany, winning the nation’s 30th U23 European title since the event’s inception in 2003. He became the ninth German man to claim gold, and only the third to do so in the -100kg division, following Dimitri Peters in 2005 and Dino Pfeiffer in 2010.
In the final, Udsilauri defeated Fares Mekhoukh in a hard-fought battle. In the second minute, Udsilauri came close to scoring. Mekhoukh, known for his resilience, had earlier escaped a difficult position in the semi-final against Benjamin Mataseje, turning the Slovakian judoka onto his back for oseikomi and a dramatic win.
In the final, however, Udsilauri’s relentless pace and pressure paid off. The bout went into golden score, and after two minutes the referee awarded Mekhoukh a third penalty, giving Udsilauri the victory.
After several close calls at age-group level, the 22-year-old finally secured his long-awaited continental title. “To be honest, I’m not surprised,” Udsilauri smiled. “I was expecting gold. I worked very hard for it. I have tried so many times to get a medal at European or world level. Finally, the hard work paid off.”
Behind George’s success stands his twin brother Daniel Udsilauri, who also competed in Chișinău and fought for bronze in the same category. “Of course, we support each other,” George said. “We are twins, and we push each other to the limits. One other brother is watching me from the sky.”
Benjamin Mataseje of Slovakia impressed throughout the day and was unlucky in his semi-final defeat to Mekhoukh. In his bronze medal contest against Rares Arsenie of Romania, Mataseje dictated the pace and, after four minutes of golden score, struck decisively to secure victory. A Junior World bronze medallist in 2022, Mataseje continues to develop into a senior contender.
Jean Carletti of Italy claimed the other bronze after Maksims Duinovs withdrew due to injury. Carletti’s highlight came earlier in the repechage, where he threw Diogo Chantre of Portugal beautifully, confirming his promise as the 2023 Junior European Champion.
+100kg: Nasibov Brings Glory to Azerbaijan
Kanan Nasibov captured Azerbaijan’s second gold of the tournament, securing victory in the +100kg final after just one minute and twenty-three seconds against Kacper Sordyl. With a solid grip, Nasibov threw Sordyl cleanly for ippon, then sprinted to celebrate with his coach Elkhan Mammadov, the 2013 World Champion.
This was Azerbaijan’s eighth ever U23 European gold medal, six for men and two for women, and it sealed their top position in the medal table.
In an all-Turkish bronze medal fight, Ibrahim Tataroglu faced Recep Ergin. The contest remained even until Ergin received his third penalty for non-combativity after five minutes, giving Tataroglu the win.
Shalva Gureshidze of Georgia claimed the second bronze by defeating Daniel Udsilauri with a wazari, followed soon after by a powerful ippon, earning Georgia its sixth medal of the championships.
Opening Ceremony in Chișinău
The U23 European Judo Championships were officially opened with distinguished guests in attendance, including Mr Marius Vizer, President of the International Judo Federation; Dr Toth Laszlo, President of the European Judo Union; Mr Andrei Golban, President of the Judo Federation of the Republic of Moldova; Mr Igor Grosu, President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova; Mr Ion Ceban, Mayor General of Chișinău; and Mr Dan Perciun, Minister of Education and Research.
Judoka
Author: Hans Van Essen