The score was 0:2 in the head-to-head with defending European Championships Juniors title holder Nizame IMRANOV (AZE/-66/1). But Nazar VISKOV (UKR/2) was not impressed by this, nor by the forty-hour bus journey. “We made a stopover and arrived in Tallinn on Wednesday. The night in the hotel was also good. I had a good night’s sleep and was one hundred per cent sure that the longer the final match lasted, the better my chances of winning.” And so it turned out. Viskov has now won his second European Championships gold medal. He remains undefeated in junior fights this year.
In November 2023, 18-year-old Ukrainian Nazar Viskov became European Under-23 champion in Potsdam. Since then, he has already competed five times on the Seniors World Tour. His record: four wins and five defeats. Not bad for someone who still has two seasons left in the Juniors class.
Meanwhile, his under-21 record remains unblemished. After winning the European Cup in Kaunas (LTU) and Slovenj Gradec (SLO), the Ukrainian has now also prevailed at the European Championships Juniors in Tallinn (EST). “Nizame and I know each other really well from randori sessions. I knew it would be tough. But I also knew that I could eventually win.’
Next mission: the World Championships Juniors in Dushanbe (TJK) at the beginning of October. “But I still have to wait for my official nomination.” That should really only be a formality. Just like the fact that Ukraine’s team will be travelling to Tajikistan by plane. So nothing should stand in the way of a good night’s sleep before the competition.
Author: EJU Media