We saw some absolutely stunning judo in the semi final rounds of both the -90kg and -70kg categories on day five of the World Judo Championships 2025. There were some incredible surprises in the early rounds, including the elimination of double Olympic Champion, Lasha BEKAURI of Georgia by Kenny Komi BEDEL (ITA). Bedel was unfortunate in his quarter final, losing out to the defending World Champion TAJIMA Goki (JPN), but fought his way past Adam KOPECKY (CZE) to the bronze medal contest.
Who will he need to compete with to ensure Italy’s flag will hang later this evening?
Olympic silver medallist, Luka MAISURADZE (GEO) will be stepping up to take on Bedel, the former World Champion and bronze medallist has extensive experience and has had a strong day, losing out only to the current Olympic silver medallist and 2023 World bronze medallist, MURAO Sanshiro (JPN) who won in the semi final with uchi mata.
For Tajima he gave an interesting performance against the 2024 European Champion, Eljan HAJIYEV (AZE), using similar style judo to defeat him! Hajiyev was first on the score board with a waza ari score from a tsuri goshi, a deep grip down the back. It didn’t take Tajima long to respond, scoring yuko with obi tori gaeshi, and then again, but this time a crashing ippon!
This sent Hajiyev to the bronze medal contest against Estonia’s Klen Kristofer KALJULAID, who pulled out an exceptional win against Olympic medallist, Maxime-Gael NGAYAP HAMBOU (FRA), with a travelling sumi gaeshi.
With a guaranteed gold for Japan in the men’s, they may be able to celebrate a second from TANAKA Shiho, who will see World silver medallist, Lara CVJETKO (CRO), competing in her second senior World final. Tanaka had a tough contest with Ai TSUNODA ROUSTANT (ESP), initially only scoring yuko with a huge throw, however it was so huge Tsunoda managed to spin out, then a second yuko was achieved from a counter. Tsunoda will now fight two-time World bronze medallist, Sanne VAN DIJKE (NED).
It was actually in Budapest that Van Dijke took the first medal in 2021, and it was a hard road to get there again today, defeating the defending World Champion, Margaux PINOT (FRA) with yuko-scoring kataguruma.
After suffering defeat in the semi final to Cvjetko by uchi mata, Aoife COUGHLAN (AUS) will head to the bronze medal contest with Olympic silver medallist, Miriam BUTKEREIT (GER), who secured her world medal contest place by holding down Elisavet TELTSIDOU (GRE).
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen