Semenenko Places Seventh on Final Day of Junior Worlds
by Bill Kellick
(Colorado Springs, CO) – Alex Semenenko (Staten Island, N.Y. / NYAC / Generation Judo Club) earned a top-7 finish on Saturday as the Junior World Championships wrapped up the individual competition in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
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Competing in the men’s +100 kg division, Semenenko started his day against Yash Vijayran (IND) in the round of 32. Both combatants felt each other out during the opening minutes of the match before Semenenko scored a waza-ari (half-point) at the 2:15 mark. Then, in the final 20 seconds, the American threw Vijayran for an ippon (instant win) to advance to the round of 16.
Facing four-time European Cup medalist Zhantilek Nurtilepuly (KAZ) in his next match, Semenenko fought another closely-contested battle with neither fighter able to land a throw until Semenenko scored the decisive ippon with 10 seconds remaining.
Now into the quarterfinal round, Semenenko faced a stern test against 2024 Dushanbe Grand Slam bronze medalist Denis Batchaev (IJF). The American judoka again fought toe-to-toe with his opponent. With no scoring throws registered and Semenenko receiving two shidos (penalties) in the first 90 seconds, the match was decided when both fighters were cited for stalling, giving Semenenko his third and disqualifying shido and awarding the match to Batchaev on ippon. Batchaev would go on to win the gold medal.
Relegated to the repechage with a chance to advance to one of the bronze medal matches, Semenenko drew Saba Kardava (GEO). Again, the match came down to penalties with Semenenko receiving his third shido with less than 30 seconds remaining. Kardava would advance to claim one of the bronze medals alongside Ibrahim Tataroglu (TUR). The silver medal went to Kanan Nasibov (AZE).
Also competing for the U.S. in the men’s +100 kg category and making his Junior World Championships debut was Armen Akojyan (Glendale, Calif. / Glendale Judo Academy). Akojyan fought 2023 European U23 Championships bronze medalist Darius Dobre (ROU) in the round of 32. The Romanian scored a waza-ari after a minute of action and followed that up with a match-ending ippon 40 seconds later.
Rounding out the U.S. competitors on Saturday was reigning Senior, Junior Olympic and Youth Nationals gold medalist, and 2024 Pan American Junior Championships gold medalist Daniel Liubimovski (Staten Island, N.Y. / Colton Brown Training Center) in the men’s 100 kg division. Facing two-time Junior European Cup bronze medalist Luka Ekvtimishvili (GEO) in the round of 32, the match went deep into Golden Score (sudden death overtime) with Liubimovski twice having opportunities on the ground to pin his opponent. After escaping from both possible match-ending moves, Ekvtimishvili scored the winning waza-ari 4:20 into Golden Score.
Mukhammadsodik Sodikov (UZB) won the men’s 100 kg gold medal by defeating Nozomu Miki (JPN) in the final. Bronze medals were awarded to Fares Mekhoukh (FRA) and Azhdar Baghirov (AZE).
The women’s 78 kg champion was returning bronze medalist Brenda Olaya (COL) who beat Mathilda Sophie Niemayer (GER) for the gold medal. Niemayer’s countrywoman Eva Ronja Buddenkotte (GER) won a bronze medal along with Dandara Camilo (BRA).
In the women’s +78 kg competition, 2023 bronze medalist Hyeonji Lee (KOR) captured the gold medal by defeating top-seeded Celia Cancan (FRA). Chihiro Yamaguchi (JPN) and Safa Soliman (EGY) claimed the bronze medals.
Top eight and U.S. results from Day 4 are as follows:
Men’s 100 kg
1. Mukhammadsodik Sodikov (UZB)
2. Nozomu Miki (JPN)
3. Fares Mekhoukh (FRA)
3. Azhdar Baghirov (AZE)
5. Rares Arsenie (ROU)
5. Ali Reza Nikseresht (IRI)
7. Mate Lakos (HUN)
7. Damian Kubiak (POL)
Also Competed: Daniel Liubimovski (Staten Island, N.Y. / Colton Brown Training Center), 0-1
Women’s 78 kg
1. Brenda Olaya (COL)
2. Mathilda Sophie Niemeyer (GER)
3. Eva Ronja Buddenkotte (GER)
3. Dandara Camilo (BRA)
5. Lila Mazzarino (FRA0
5. Polina Iudina (IJF)
7. Marie Kosnarova (CZE)
7. Emma Krapu (FIN)
Men’s +100 kg
1. Denis Barchaev (IJF)
2. Kanan Nasibov (AZE)
3. Ibrahim Tataroglu (TUR)
3. Sava Kardava (GEO)
5. Darius Dobre (ROU)
5. Arsen Kadzaev (IJF)
7. Dusan Baek (KOR)
7. Alex Semenenko (Staten Island, N.Y. / NYAC / Generation Judo Club)
Also Competed: Armen Akojyan (Glendale, Calif. / Glendale Judo Academy), 0-1
Women’s +78 kg
1. Hyeonji Lee (KOR)
2. Celia Cancan (FRA)
3. Chihiro Yamaguchi (JPN)
3. Safa Soliman (EGY)
5. Olivia Oliveira (BRA)
5. Yu Liu (CHN)
7. Rugile Stasiulyte (LTU)
7. Marcelina Vranjes (CRO)