2024 Junior World Championship Preview

(Colorado Springs, CO) – Fifteen American athletes under the age of 21 are set to compete at the Junior World Championships starting Wednesday in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The U.S. team will be among 539 athletes from 67 nations participating in the four-day individual competition.

Team USA features six returning members from the 2023 Junior World Team as well as two athletes who fought at the Cadet Worlds in August, including gold medalist Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / LA Judo Club / USA Judo National Resident Team) who became the first-ever U.S. Cadet World Champion.

The U.S. squad also boasts six athletes ranked among the top 20 in the world:

• Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), World No. 2 at 63 kg and 2023 Cadet Worlds fifth-place finisher
• Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), World No. 3 at 60 kg and two-time USA Judo Senior National Champion
• Dominic Rodriguez (Lehigh Acres, Fla. / NYAC / Ki Itsu Sai National Training Center), World No. 4 at 81 kg and 2023 USA Judo Senior National Champion
• Oleksandr Nyzhnyk (Los Gatos, Calif. / Nakano Judo Academy / USA Judo National Resident Team), World No. 15 at 90 kg and 2023 USA Judo Senior Nationals bronze medalist
• Daniel Liubimovski (Staten Island, N.Y. / Colton Brown Training Center), World No. 15 at 100 kg and 2023 USA Judo Senior National Champion
• Nancy Nguyen (San Jose, Calif. / San Jose State University Judo), World No. 18 at 70 kg and 2023 USA Judo Senior Nationals bronze medalist

Preview by Weight Category

Men’s 60 kg

Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) and Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / LA Judo Club / USA Judo National Resident Team) represent possibly the strongest weight class for the U.S. team with Velazco competing at his third Junior Worlds and currently ranked No. 3 in the world, and Yang coming off his historic gold medal at the Cadet World Championships and making his Junior World Championships debut. Both athletes will receive a bye into the round of 32 with Velazco (Pool D), the No. 3 seed, facing Vincenzo Manferlotti (ITA), a silver medalist at the 2024 Lignano Junior European Cup. Yang (Pool B) will match up against the winner of the opening contest between Vahe Aghasyan (ARM), two-time Junior European Cup bronze medalist, and Charlie Ayre (GBR), 2024 Kaunas Junior European Cup bronze medalist.

The division’s top seed and World No. 1 is defending silver medalist Nizami Imranov (AZE). Returning bronze medalist and No. 2 seed Talgat Orynbassar (KAZ) heads up Pool C. The top seed in Yang’s Pool B is defending Junior World Champion Yamato Fukada (JPN).

Women’s 48 kg

Kelani Ramos (Bethesda, Md. / Precision Grappling) will be making her first world championship appearance and will receive a bye into the round of 32 where she will face the No. 6 seed and 2024 African Junior Champion Nohade Riadi (MAR).

One of the top athletes to watch in the women’s 48 kg field will be Junior World No. 2 Konul Aliyeva (AZE) who captured this year’s European Junior Championships and has fought at four senior Grand Slam events the past two years. Rounding out the top four seeds are Lok Yi Ho (HKG), Morgane Annis (FRA) and Laura Bogdan (ROU).

Men’s 66 kg

As with his brother Jonathan, Jacob Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / LA Judo Club / USA Judo National Resident Team) will be making his Junior World Championships debut in Tajikistan. The three-time Pan American cadet and junior bronze medalist will square off against Petros Christodoulides (CYP) in the round of 64. Christodoulides will be making his third Junior World Championships appearance and also competed at this year’s Senior World Championships. The winner will face No. 3 seed Jose Icelo (MEX).

Italy’s claims the division’s top two seeds in Valerio Accogli (World No. 1) and Alessio DeLuca (World No. 3). Iago Santos De Oliveira (BRA) rounds out the top four seeds in the men’s 66 kg division.

Women’s 52 kg

The division’s top seed is Micaela Sciacovelli (ITA), Junior World No. 1 and bronze medalist at last year’s Junior World Championships. Nikolina Nisavic (SRB), Kinga Klimczak (POL) and Rafaela Rodrigues (BRA) round out the top four seeds for the women’s 52 kg competition.

Men’s 73 kg

Steven Boldbaatar (Bellevue, Wash. / Washington Judo Academy) will make his Junior World Championships debut when he faces Yusuke Takeichi (JPN), silver medalist at the 2024 Malaga Junior European Cup, in the round of 64. The winner of that match will face Benjamin Levy (GBR) in the round of 32 with a potential matchup with defending Junior World Champion Vusal Galandarzade (AZE) looming in the round of 16. Rounding out the top seeds in each of the four pools are Adilet Almat (KAZ), Dimitar Gospodinov (BUL) and Jerome Assafoua Zelman (CIV).

Women’s 57 kg

Seventeen-year-old Jasmine Macias (La Puente, Calif. / Guerreros Judo Club) will return for her second Junior World appearance. The 2023 Pan American Cadet Championship bronze medalist will fight Kristina Nisavic (SRB), bronze medalist at the 2024 Podgorica Senior European Cup, in the round of 64. The winner will advance to the round of 32 to meet three-time Junior World Championship participant Alya De Carvalho (FRA).

The top seed in the field is World No. 1 Bianca Reis (BRA) – the two-time Junior Pan Am Champion and 2022 Cadet World silver medalist. Reis’ countrywoman Beatriz Comanche is seeded second and competes as a returning bronze medalist from 2023. Reigning silver medalist Riko Honda (JPN) is seeded third followed by World No. 5 Fidan Alizada (AZE).

Men’s 81 kg

Dominic Rodriguez (Lehigh Acres, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) returns for his third Junior World Championships and brings with him the experience of competing in two Senior World Championships. Rodriguez has won three Cadet Pan American Championships as well as one Junior title and one Senior title. As the No. 4 seed, Rodriguez will receive a bye into the round of 32 where he will await the winner of the match between Emil Valchev (BUL), 2023 Cadet European Championships silver medalist, and 2023 Cadet World Champion Boris Rutovic (SRB).

Top seed and World No. 1 Aleksandre Loladze (GEO) is the returning silver medalist. Igor Tsurkan (UKR) and Suleyman Shukurov (AZE) are the second and third seeds, respectively, in the men’s 81 kg division.

Women’s 63 kg

Team USA brings a wealth of experience to the 63 kg category with 20-year-old Karlee Carrouth (Oklahoma City, Okla. / NYAC / USA Stars Foundation) and 18-year-old Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) each returning to her third Junior World Team. Carrouth won gold at the 2023 Graz Junior European Cup where she defeated Junior World No. 4 Antonietta Palumbo (ITA) in the finals. Carrouth receives a bye into the round of 32 where she will face No. 4 seed and seven-time European Cup gold medalist Sara Corbo (ITA). Jaspe is No. 2 in the world and the No. 2 seed in the tournament, having won gold medals at both the Pan American Cadet Championships in 2022 and the Pan American Junior Championships earlier this year. After a bye into the round of 32, Jaspe will match up against Himanshi Tokas (IND) in the round of 32. Tokas represented India at this year’s Senior World Championships in Abu Dhabi.

Defending gold medalist and 2022 bronze medalist Melkia Auchecorne (FRA) is the top seed in the women’s 63 kg division. Junior European Championships silver medalist Joni Geilen (NED) locks down the No. 3 seed.

Men’s 90 kg

Nineteen-year-old Oleksandr Nyzhnyk (Los Gatos, Calif. / Nakano Judo Academy / USA Judo National Resident Team) returns for his second straight Junior World Championships after winning the Pan American Junior Championships in April. Nyzhnyk received a bye into the round of 32 where he draws Yan Boyin (CHN).

Top seed Komei Kawabata (JPN) stood on the top of the podium at last year’s Junior World Championships and also earned gold at the 2023 Prague Junior European Cup. No. 2 seed Miljan Radulj (SRB) is this year’s Junior European Champion and will be competing in his third Junior World Championships. Rounding out the top four seeds are 19-year-old Oleksii Boldyriev (SLO) and 20-year-old Michal Wasikowski (POL), a three-time Junior European Cup champion.

 Women’s 70 kg

Nancy Nguyen (San Jose, Calif. / San Jose State University Judo) and Chloe Williams (Stafford, Va. / Wall 2 Wall Martial Arts) will both be making their Junior World Championships debut. Nguyen, a Podgorica Junior European Cup champion and Junior Pan American Championships silver medalist received a bye into the round of 32 where she will await the winner of the match between Nassma Essatouri (MAR), the African Junior Championships silver medalist, and Hajeong Park (KOR). Williams, a two-time Cadet World Championships participant, also received a bye into the round of 32 where she will face either Firuza Azamova (IJF), the Almaty Asian Junior Cup silver medalist, or Dipapati Ngangbam (IND), 2023 Asian Cadet Championships bronze medalist.

Two-time Junior World Championships silver medalist Kaillany Cardoso (BRA) enters as the Junior World No. 1. 2023 fifth-place finisher April Lynn Fohouo (SUI) is the No. 2 seed, followed by Aina Laura Rasoanaivo Razafy (MAD) and 2023 bronze medalist Elena Dengg (AUT).

Men’s 100 kg

Daniel Liubimovski (Staten Island, N.Y. / Colton Brown Training Center) is another first-time Junior World Team member. The reigning Senior, Junior Olympic and Youth Nationals gold medalist and 2024 Pan American Junior Championships gold medalist will receive a bye into the round of 32 and fight Luka Ekvtimishvili (GEO), a two-time Junior European Cup bronze medalist.

The top four seeds in the men’s 100 kg category are returning bronze medalist and Junior World No. 1 Joes Schell (NED), 2022 Cadet World Championships bronze medalist Milan Bulaja (SRB), Junior European Championships silver medalist Jakob Vares (EST) and Junior European Championships bronze medalist Maxence Bordin (FRA).

Women’s 78 kg

Shirinjon Yuldoshova (UZB) is the Junior World No. 1 and top seed in the women’s 78 kg competition. The 20-year-old has accumulated three gold medals in 2024 at the Tashkent Junior Asian Cup, the Almaty Asian Junior Cup, and the Asian Junior Championships. Two German competitors – Junior World No. 2 Eva Ronja Buddenkotte and Junior World No. 4 Mathilda Sophie Niemeyer – hold down the second and third seeds in the bracket. The fourth seed is Brenda Olaya (COL), a returning bronze medalist from the 2023 Junior World Championships.

Men’s +100 kg

Nineteen-year-old Alex Semenenko (Staten Island, N.Y. / NYAC / Generation Judo Club) won gold at his first-ever junior international event, winning the 2023 Skopje Junior European Cup. Semenenko is competing at this second Junior World Championships following his debut at the 2019 Cadet Worlds. In the round of 32 Semenenko will fight Yash Vijayran (IND) who is making his Junior Worlds debut. 

Junior World No. 1 and 2022 Cadet World Champion John Messe A Bessong (CAN) holds down the top seed in the men’s +100 kg competition. He finished seventh at last year’s Junior Worlds alongside No. 2 seed in this year’s event Emirkhan Zholdoshkaziev (KGZ), the Asian Junior Champion. The only returning medalist from last year’s Junior World Championships is third-seeded Ibrahim Tataroglu (TUR), the 2024 European Junior Champion. Rounding out the top four seeds is Kanan Nasibov (AZE), the Junior European Championships bronze medalist who is making his third Junior Worlds appearance.

Women’s +78 kg

Two-time Cadet World Championships medalist Celia Cancan (FRA) is the top seed in the women’s +78 kg category. She is joined in the top four seeds by returning bronze medalist Hyeonji Lee (KOR), Junior European Championships bronze medalist Marcelina Vranjes (CRO) and 2023 Junior Pan American Championships silver medalist Enya Pires (BRA).

Complete USA Junior World Roster:

Women’s 48 kg
Kelani Ramos (Bethesda, Md. / Precision Grappling)

Women’s 52 kg
Elianna Abbott (Rayne, La. / Louisiana Judo)

Women’s 57 kg
Jasmine Macias (La Puente, Calif. / Guerreros Judo Club)

Women’s 63 kg
Karlee Carrouth (Oklahoma City, Okla. / NYAC / USA Stars Foundation)
Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)

Women’s 70 kg
Nancy Nguyen (San Jose, Calif. / San Jose State University Judo)
Chloe Williams (Stafford, Va. / Wall 2 Wall Martial Arts)

Men’s 60 kg
Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / LA Judo Club / USA Judo National Resident Team)

Men’s 66 kg
Jacob Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / LA Judo Club / USA Judo National Resident Team)

Men’s 73 kg
Steven Boldbaatar (Bellevue, Wash. / Washington Judo Academy)

Men’s 81 kg
Dominic Rodriguez (Lehigh Acres, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)

Men’s 90 kg
Oleksandr Nyzhnyk (Los Gatos, Calif. / Nakano Judo Academy / USA Judo National Resident Team)

Men’s 100 kg
Daniel Liubimovski (Staten Island, N.Y. / Colton Brown Training Center)

Men’s +100 kg
Armen Akojyan (Glendale, Calif. / Glendale Judo Academy)
Alex Semenenko (Staten Island, N.Y. / NYAC / Generation Judo Club)

Competition schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, Oct. 2
Men’s 60 kg and 66 kg
Women’s 48 kg and 52 kg

Thursday, Oct. 3
Men’s 73 kg
Women’s 57 kg and 63 kg

Friday, Oct. 4
Men’s 81 kg and 90 kg
Women’s 70 kg

Saturday, Oct. 5
Men’s 100 kg and +100 kg
Women’s 78 kg and +78 kg