With the astonishing number of 11 medals out of 14 categories, Japan reigned in this 14th Junior World Championships held in Bangkok for the last four days (23rd to 26th October). The Nippon team won 4 gold, 1 silver and 6 bronze. France was second with 2 gold and 2 silver and Brazil finished third with 2 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze.
“It was not a surprise for us. We came to Thailand for getting as many medals as possible. Of course there is a little pressure to win because of the Japanese judo tradition, but we are able to deal with this”, says head coach Tatsuya Deguchi. “For sure we have a strong generation coming”, adds Mr. Deguchi.
Frenchmen Ugo Legrand won the second gold for his country (-66kg), which put France on the lead of the male competition (second overall behind Japan).
“I am really proud of it”, says Legrand. “It is my last junior year and now I wish to repeat the all of I have done at the seniors. My dream is to be in the next Olympics in London”, continues, crowned also European champion in 2008.
In the last fourth day of competition in Bangkok, Russian Arsen Galstyan won gold in the -60kg division and Megumi Tachimoto was first in the +78kg category.
-60kg
1. Arsen Galstyan (RUS)
2. Tumurkhuleg Davaaroj (MGL)
3. Hirofumi Yamamoto (JPN)
3. Gabit Esimbetov (UZB)
5. Catalin Iulian Bratulescu (ROU)
5. Felipe Kitadai (BRA)
-66kg
1. Ugo Legrand (FRA)
2. Zsolt Gorjanacz (HUN)
3. Sarkhan Ahmadov (AZE)
3. Masashi Ebinuma (JPN)
5. Mehmet Durmaz (TUR)
5. Filip Krizan (SRB)
+78kg
1. Megumi Tachimoto (JPN)
2. Ashley Fleming (GBR)
3. Svitlana Iaromka (UKR)
3. Ji-Youn Kim (KOR)
5. Aurore Quintin (FRA)
5. Angelique Heiny (GER)