Tsurkan Ends the -63 kg Final in Seconds with a Statement Win

Ilariia Tsurkan of Slovenia was the standout name in the -63 kg category in Gran Canaria, and the final on day two of this Judo event confirmed exactly why. The world number one entered as the clear favourite and finished the day with a performance that left no doubt.

Tsurkan arrived with a strong record already behind her. She is a cadet world silver medallist and a six-time European Cup medallist, with results already carrying into the junior level. From the first rounds, she looked in control and moved through the field with the authority expected from the top-ranked athlete in the category.

Still, the gold medal contest was not short of drama. Across from her stood Tinatin Gulbani of Georgia, one of the biggest surprises of the tournament. Gulbani came into Gran Canaria ranked 28th in the world and unseeded, but by the time the final began, rankings were no longer the main story.

Her run to the last contest had already turned heads. Gulbani put together four victories to reach the final, and three of those wins came by Ippon. She had beaten several higher-ranked opponents along the way, building the kind of momentum that can change the feeling of an entire category.

That set up a compelling clash: the established number one against an athlete who had spent the day upsetting expectations. Gulbani had earned her place with fearless Judo, but Tsurkan never let the final slip into uncertainty.

The decisive moment came almost immediately. Just ten seconds into the contest, Tsurkan attacked with a sharply timed uki-waza for Waza-ari. It was the kind of start that can break an opponent's rhythm instantly.

Tsurkan needed less than half a minute to take control of the final.

She did not pause there. Moving straight on, Tsurkan transitioned into yoko-shiho-gatame and secured a second Waza-ari only 19 seconds later. The sequence was fast, clean and ruthless, a champion's response to a final that had promised suspense.

There was also another layer to the result. Tsurkan represented Slovenia here after winning the EYOF 2025 title under the Ukrainian flag, and this gold added another major chapter to her rise. In the -63 kg category, Slovenia has built a reputation for producing winners, and Tsurkan now looks firmly part of that story.

For Gulbani, the loss should not erase what was an exceptional day. Her run to the final was one of the most impressive performances in the division and showed she can challenge far more established names. Even in defeat, she left Gran Canaria as one of the athletes people will remember.

But this final belonged to Tsurkan. From favourite on paper to champion on the tatami, she delivered exactly when the pressure was highest and did it in breathtakingly quick fashion.

Source: EJU.net