Uzbekistan tops cadet world judo championship in Sofia

The National Olympic Committee reported that Uzbekistan claimed three golds on the first day of competition alone. According to the International Judo Federation, winning five golds is usually expected from Japan, but this time the Japanese cadet team finished fourth.

In the under-40 kg category, Dilafruz Boltaboeva defeated tournament favorite Sema Nur Yuksel of Turkey in a tense final. The match remained scoreless until golden score, when Boltaboeva executed a decisive Uchi mata, earning yuko and the world title.

In the under-81 kg category, Inomjon Bahodirov, one of the day’s biggest surprises, overcame favorite Tajus Babaicenko and faced Georgia’s Giorgi Mumladze in the final. After a scoreless first half, Bahodirov scored yuko and later secured victory with a chokehold, bringing Uzbekistan its fourth gold.

Khushnudbek Burkhanov excelled in the under-55 kg category. After strong preliminary wins, he defeated Italy’s Matteo Gualandi in just 19 seconds in the final with a flawless sankaku-jime, claiming gold.

Other gold medalists:

- under-50 kg – Khushnud Sultonov

- over-70 kg – Umida Nigmatova

Bronze medalists:

- under-73 kg – Sadulla Ravshanov

- under-60 kg – Dilshod Karimov

Uzbek athletes also won the silver medal in the mixed team event. They defeated France, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia in the preliminary rounds before falling to Japan in the final.