Cadet World Champion Yang Reaches Bronze-Medal Match in Junior Worlds Debut

(Colorado Springs, CO) – Seventeen-year-old Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / LA Judo Club / USA Judo National Resident Team) made a splash in his first Junior World Championships as the four-day event for athletes under the age of 21 kicked off on Wednesday in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

2024 Junior World Championships Live Stream and Results

Fresh off his historic Cadet World Championship victory in late August, Yang advanced to the bronze-medal match of the men’s 60 kg division, eventually finishing fifth with a record of 3-2. Yang began the day by throwing Charlie Ayre (GBR) for ippon (instant win) at the 1:21 mark in their round of 32 match. He then advanced to the quarterfinal round by scoring the deciding waza-ari (half-point) in a tightly contested fight with Paris 2024 Olympian Michel Augusto (BRA).

Facing defending Junior World Champion Yamoto Fukuda (JPN) in the quarterfinals, Yang held his own before Fukuda scored two waza-aris to clinch the win. Fukuda would claim his second consecutive Junior World title by defeating Loiq Kudbudinov (TJK) in the final. Relegated to the repechage, Yang would defeat Vladimir Ulianov (IJF) after Ulianov incurred his third penalty of the match. In the bronze medal contest, Asian Junior Champion Murodil Murodillaev (UZB) scored an ippon with 45 seconds remaining to secure the victory over Yang. Talgat Orynbassar (KAZ) claimed the other bronze medal in the men’s 60 kg competition.

"I'm proud of my performance but not satisfied," said Yang.

Third-seeded Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) took his opening round of 32 match with Vincenzo Manferlotti (ITA) to Golden Score (sudden death overtime) before the Italian scored the decisive ippon 38 seconds into the extra session to secure the victory.

Jonathan Yang’s older brother Jacob Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / LA Judo Club / USA Judo National Resident Team) made a run to the round of 16 in the men’s 66 kg competition. He scored an ippon victory over Petros Christodoulides (CYP) in the round of 64 and followed that up with an upset win over No. 3 seed Jose Icelo (MEX) by scoring the only waza-ari of the contest. Yang then lost by ippon in the round of 16 to Magzhan Alzhanov (KAZ). The all-Japanese final in the men’s 66 kg division saw Shuntaro Fukuchi (JPN) defeat countryman Kairi Kentoku (JPN) to claim the gold medal. Bronze medals went to German Kobets (IJF) and Alessio De Luca (ITA).

Fifteen-year-old Kelani Ramos (Bethesda, Md. / Precision Grappling) made her first world championship appearance and faced the No. 6 seed and 2024 African Junior Champion Nohade Riadi (MAR) in the women’s 48 kg round of 32. The 20-year-old Riadi scored the winning ippon just over a minute into the match to advance to the round of 16. The gold medal was won by Xinran Hui (CHN) with Sachiyo Yoshino (JPN) taking the silver. Bronze medalists in the women’s 48 kg competition were Kristina Dudina (IJF) and Clarice Ribeiro (BRA).

Japan swept the top two spots in the women’s 52 kg division with Iroha Oi (JPN) winning the final over teammate Senju Nosho (JPN). Mio Huh (KOR) claimed one bronze medal while Alyssia Poulange (FRA) won the other.

Competition continues on Thursday with Steven Boldbaatar (Bellevue, Wash. / Washington Judo Academy) taking to the tatami in the men’s 73 kg competition and Jasmine Macias (La Puente, Calif. / Guerreros Judo Club) and Karlee Carrouth (Oklahoma City, Okla. / NYAC / USA Stars Foundation) competing in the women’s 57 kg and 63 kg divisions, respectively.

Top eight and U.S. results from Day 1 are as follows:

Men’s 60 kg
1. Yamato Fukuda (JPN)
2. Loiq Kudbudinov (TJK)
3. Murodil Murodillaev (UZB)
3. Talgat Orynbassar (KAZ)
5. Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / LA Judo Club / USA Judo National Resident Team)
5. Nizami Imranov (AZE)
7. Vladimir Ulianov (IJF)
7. Vincenzo Manferlotti (ITA)
Also Competed: Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), 0-1

Women’s 48 kg
1. Xinran Hui (CHN)
2. Sachiyo Yoshino (JPN)
3. Kristina Dudina (IJF)
3. Clarice Ribeiro (BRA)
5. Rebecca Valeriani (ITA)
5. Szabina Szeleczki (HUN)
7. Lana Filkina (IJF)
7. Summer Shaw (GBR)
Also Competed: Kelani Ramos (Bethesda, Md. / Precision Grappling), 0-1

Men’s 66 kg
1. Shuntaro Kukuchi (JPN)
2. Kairi Kentoku (JPN)
3. German Kobets (IJF)
3. Alessio DeLuca (ITA)
5. Toyly Myradov (TKM)
5. Zamohshari Bekmurodov (UZB)
7. Mahammad Musayev (AZE)
7. Magzhan Alzhanov (KAZ)
Also Competed: Jacob Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / LA Judo Club / USA Judo National Resident Team), 2-1

Women’s 52 kg
1. Iroha Oi (JPN)
2. Senju Nosho (JPN)
3. Mio Huh (KOR)
3. Alyssia Poulange (FRA)
5. Aydan Valiyeva (AZE)
5. Rafaela Rodrigues (BRA)
7. Madina Qurbonzoda (TJK)
7. Uranzaya Bayanmunkh (MGL)