Yudanov’s Controlled Run Ends in -100 kg European Gold

Nikita Yudanov of Spain claimed Junior European gold in the -100 kg category after a composed run through the draw. The second seed handled a turbulent competition with clinical efficiency, reaching the final against Vladimir Dosiak of Russia.

The biggest early disruption came in Pool A, where Luxembourg’s Micha Welter eliminated top seed Giorgi Bendeliani of Georgia. That result immediately changed the shape of the upper half, but Welter could not turn the breakthrough into a route to the final.

Leonhard Fransens of the Netherlands stopped Welter’s progress, before Dosiak halted Fransens and continued through a draw full of changing momentum. Dosiak emerged from the upper-half chaos with a place in the European final.

Welter fought on through repechage but was unable to complete a comeback, finishing seventh. Dimitrije Savic of Bosnia and Herzegovina used the reshuffled bracket to earn a bronze-medal contest against Gaya Sonntag of France.

Pool A was turned upside down when Welter eliminated the top seed.

While the upper half produced surprise after surprise, Yudanov’s route was notably more controlled. Namazli of Azerbaijan, Spyrydonov of Germany and Sonntag stood between the Spanish judoka and the final, and Yudanov cleared each challenge.

The final marked the first career meeting between Yudanov and Dosiak. For Yudanov, the European title brought a strong finish after what the source described as a difficult year, while his run also underlined the depth of the -100 kg field at Junior European level.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union