Two unforgettable World Championship titles on a historic Day 1 in Budapest 2025
Welcome to Budapest, where new legends will rise at the OTP BANK World Judo Championships Hungary 2025.
Before the competition started, the IJF held their Congress at the beautiful Varkert Bazar where IJF President, Mr Vizer stood for re-election unopposed and was applauded by the national federation presidents and general secretaries as his election was duly ratified.
At the Papp László Arena, the crowds were waiting in anticipation to watch their favourite judoka claim their red back patches.
In -48kg, Italy's Assunta SCUTTO claimed her place in the final with impressive judo all morning. Her second time in a World final, could she finally take the gold?
Meeting her there was Kazakhstan's Abiba ABUZHAKYNOVA. The Kazakh was in fantastic form, with impressive footwork throughout the day, but would that be enough to earn her the title?
Heading out for the gold medal match, it was anyone's game. Nearing the end of the contest, SCUTTO scored a yuko to lead the contest and soon after countered an attack, scoring ippon to claim the World title. Two bronzes, a silver, and finally a gold. An emotional victory to complete her collection.
Taishan Group Chairman & Founder, IJF Hon Vice President Mr BIAN Zhiliang awarded the medals.
I'm really happy, I don't believe it. My coach, my family, my gym, everybody, thank you, thank you!In the -60kg category, Romain VALADIER PICARD secured his first time in a World final here in Budapest. An impressive feat for the 22 year old.
But facing him was the far more experienced Ryuju NAGAYAMA - could his sixth attempt for the World title finally be the one?
In the gold medal match, Nagayama was dominant. Two waza-ari scores, finally taking him to the pinnacle of the -60kg. And earning him the red backpatch at long last. A performance built on precision, patience, and years of determination.
This is my sixth World Championships and I finally have a gold medal and believe me it feels good.
CHN NOC Vice President Mr ZHOU Jinqiang awarded the medals.
It's been an incredible first day here in Budapest.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Habz, Stark light up Diamond League as Girma banishes Paris blues
France's Azeddine Habz (C) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the men's 1500m (EMMA DA SILVA) Unheralded Azzedine Habz and Grace Stark lit up a drama-loaded Diamond League meet in Paris on Friday, snatching the limelight with two outstanding performances that put a raft of higher-profile athletes in the shade. Paris proved to be the perfect testing ground as athletes continue to fine-tune their form ahead of September's world championships in Tokyo. Advertisement Habz sent the partisan crowd into raptures by becoming the sixth fastest man over 1500m of all time, riding the coattails of two pacemakers to clock 3:27.49 for a meet record and new French best. In a shockingly fast race, Kenya's Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech set a world junior record in second, while 11 of the next 12 athletes all timed personal bests, including national records for the Netherlands, Belgium and South Africa. "It's incredible, there's no other word for it," said the 31-year-old Morocco-born Habz, twice a minor medallist at European indoors. "It's truly a dream come true. To succeed in a race like this in Paris is even stronger." Advertisement There were a rash of further meet records in perfect, hot conditions at Stade Charlety. American Stark clocked 12.21sec in the 100m hurdles to go joint fifth fastest of all time, holding off Nigeria's 2022 world champion and world record holder Tobi Amusan. "I wanted to break that 12.3 so bad!" Stark said. "It feels that I can have a party. "And then, I just need to keep working, taking it race by race, stay focused and stay quiet." Dominican Republic's Marileidy Paulino made no mistake in the women's 400m although she had to pull out all stops down the home straight to outpace Bahraini rival Salwa Eid Naser. Advertisement Paulino, gold medallist at last year's Paris Olympics and the 2023 worlds in Budapest, made it three victories in a row at Charlety in 48.81sec, four-hundredths ahead of Naser. American Rai Benjamin also racked up a meet record of 46.93sec in the 400m hurdles, making easy work of the victory in the absence of Norwegian arch-rival Karsten Warholm and Brazilian Alison Dos Santos. "Sub-47 is impressive. I just ran smart and ran for the win," said Benjamin. - 'A little scared' - Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma lit up the 2023 edition of the Meeting de Paris by smashing the previous world record (7:52.11) for the 3,000m steeplechase. Advertisement There was disaster at the Paris Olympics, however, after Girma fell heavily in the last lap of the Stade de France track. But he made a winning return to Stade Charlety, winning in 8:07.01 after admitting he had overcome a sense of dread. "This is a big thing for me today, especially after the Paris Olympics," Girma said. "It feels it was a long time ago, so this was very important for me. This is a very big achievement, so I am very happy." "I was a little scared at first getting into the race. Now that the race is finished I feel much better." Morocco's Sofiane El Bakkali is the two-time Olympic steeplechase champion, but he opted to race the 5,000m in Paris alongside the Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha, who claimed his 11th Diamond League victory in 12:47.84. Advertisement Kenya's Faith Cherotich ran a world lead of 8:53.37 in the women's steeplechase, holding off Uganda's Peruth Chemutai. Australia's Nicola Olyslagers, a two-time world indoor champion who has won twice in Paris (2021, 2023), won the women's high jump with a best of 2.00m. Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the world and Olympic champion who set the current world record of 2.10 metres at last year's Diamond League meet in Paris, finished second with 1.97m on countback from another Australian, Eleanor Patterson. Grant Holloway, the three-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist making his return to action after a disastrous opening outing in China, could only finish fifth in the 110m hurdles, albeit in a season's best of 13.11sec. Advertisement It was his US teammate Trey Cunningham who won in a personal best of 13.00sec, ahead of Dylan Beard, also in a PB of 13.02sec, while Jason Joseph set a Swiss record of 13.07 for third. And Spain's Mohamed Attaoui picked an inside line to outpace the American duo of Josh Hoey and Bryce Hoppel in what he called a "brutal" 800m in a season's best of 1:42.73. lp/ea
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fox fired up for canoe world titles after rough results
There's been some rough water for Jessica Fox since her Paris Olympics medal blitz, but the canoe great feels her title defence is on track 100 days out from the world championships in Penrith. Fox will defend her kayak crown on her home course, with the competition getting under way on September 29, but despite winning gold in the event in Paris, her results this year haven't been at her usual standard. Advertisement The 31-year-old, who owns six Olympic medals, including three gold, has missed the K1 final at both of the opening World Cup events in Europe. In the opening race in La Seu in Spain, Fox finished 48th in a field of 50 after incurring a 50-second penalty for missing a gate. She also missed the K1 final at the second World Cup event in Pau in France, but at both she bounced back to win gold in the C1 races. "It's funny, people are always almost shocked when you don't qualify for the final, or when you don't win, as when you've done it so many times it's just expected, but actually it's hard every time," Fox said from Prague, ahead of another World Cup later this month. Jessica Fox and her father Richard Fox celebrate with fans after a golden effort in Paris. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) "Even the best athletes make mistakes, so it was disappointing, I was upset, I had a good cry about it, and then I just got back on the horse the next day, got back in my boat and had another crack. Advertisement "I'm fine-tuning things and I'm still in a training and building phase at the moment before the worlds, and I'm taking in as much info as I can." She said the gates hung quite low in Spain, and she was too cautious in her approach. But after taking time out to savour her Olympic success, also winning gold in the C1 while her sister Noemie won the kayak cross, she felt she was building nicely for the world championships. Fox admitted the pressure of defending her title on her home course could be on par with the Olympics. Jessica Fox knows there will be high expectations after her successes at the Paris Olympics. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) "Paris was magical in every way and it went perfectly, and was a very successful campaign, and fantastic to perform in that way,'' she said. Advertisement "Now looking forward, obviously you're always going to have that expectation and target on your back, you're the reigning Olympic champion, reigning world champion in the kayak, and that hovers there, like a cloud, if you let it. "Everyone's hungry for that race, and just because you're world number one or just because you're the reigning champion doesn't mean it's different. "Coming into a world championship at home is going to feel very much like an Olympics in terms of the pressure and the expectation, but I think we'll be ready. "I love our home course and that's going to serve me, and I'm going to try and make it an advantage." Olympic gold medallist Jessica Fox loves the Penrith course and plans to use it as an advantage. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS) While she's set to compete in the next Olympics in Los Angeles, Fox is also looking beyond her paddling career and has partnered with charity organisation High Impact Athletes, with sponsors pledging an amount for each "clean" gate on the course. Advertisement "It's about looking beyond sport and going, how else can I have an impact, and how do I keep this interesting and exciting, and what's my legacy going to be?,'' she said. "Each race, each run, each gate that I take, I'm pledging my support for this charity, which provides safe, clean drinking water for people around the world, and bringing people on board with me."
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
USA Football's 'Summer Series' in Los Angeles showcases flag football ahead of the 2028 Olympics
This undated photo provided by USA Football shows Team USA player Ashlea Klam as she looks down the field at the start of a play at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Lester Barnes/USA Football via AP) This undated photo provided by USA Football shows Team USA quarterback Darrell 'Housh' Doucette as he runs down the field at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Lester Barnes/USA Football via AP) This undated photo provided by USA Football shows Team USA player Ashlea Klam as she holds the football up while playing against Mexico's women's team at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Lester Barnes/USA Football via AP) This undated photo provided by USA Football shows Team USA player Ashlea Klam as she runs with the football at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Lester Barnes/USA Football via AP) This undated photo provided by USA Football shows Team USA quarteback Darrell 'Housh' Doucette as he runs down the field with the football at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Lester Barnes/USA Football via AP) This undated photo provided by USA Football shows Team USA quarteback Darrell 'Housh' Doucette as he runs down the field with the football at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Lester Barnes/USA Football via AP) This undated photo provided by USA Football shows Team USA player Ashlea Klam as she looks down the field at the start of a play at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Lester Barnes/USA Football via AP) This undated photo provided by USA Football shows Team USA quarterback Darrell 'Housh' Doucette as he runs down the field at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Lester Barnes/USA Football via AP) This undated photo provided by USA Football shows Team USA player Ashlea Klam as she holds the football up while playing against Mexico's women's team at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Lester Barnes/USA Football via AP) This undated photo provided by USA Football shows Team USA player Ashlea Klam as she runs with the football at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Lester Barnes/USA Football via AP) This undated photo provided by USA Football shows Team USA quarteback Darrell 'Housh' Doucette as he runs down the field with the football at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Lester Barnes/USA Football via AP) Being in Los Angeles this weekend, practicing and playing in flag football games, and mentoring younger players, makes it all seem that much more real for quarterback Darrell 'Housh' Doucette. Just three summers from now, his sport will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 LA Games. What the final roster will look like, how many NFL players may be on it, is still being sorted out. Advertisement This weekend in LA is simply another chance to showcase flag football. Approximately 900 players from nine countries are taking part in USA Football's 'Summer Series.' No active-roster NFL players are slated to take the field. But that could change down the road after league owners unanimously gave permission in May for players to participate in flag football. 'It's gaining traction,' the 35-year-old Doucette said of his sport, which is currently already part of the NFL's Pro Bowl festivities. 'It's being talked about on ESPN, the NFL Network. The NFL is putting (resources) behind it. It's an exciting, fun, fast game.' The teams of tomorrow The fields at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles will host tournaments and showcases for players of all ages. The men's and women's national teams also play in a series of friendly international matches throughout the weekend. Advertisement On top of that, federations will engage in an international high-performance summit. Basically, it's an exchange of ideas and methodologies to grow the game around the world. The U.S. men and women are both No. 1 in the world, according to the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) rankings. 'There's sort of a sports diplomacy going on,' said Scott Hallenbeck, the CEO of USA Football. 'There's just lots of elements that I think speak really well to the growth of the sport within the Olympic movement and what's expected within the Olympic movement and the opportunity to all learn from each other as quickly as possible. 'It's only three years to the Olympics. ... We all have to go as fast as we can." Fine-tuning Advertisement This is also a chance for the national teams to fine-tune before international competitions. The U.S. squads will compete in September at the IFAF Americas Continental Flag Football Championship in Panama. The women's team also will play at the World Games in Chengdu, China, in August. 'The friendlies are more about just seeing where your team is currently at,' Doucette said. 'We are the top dogs, but we can't go out and treat it that way. We have to keep our foot on the pedal with every game we play.' Doucette still hopes to be the signal caller for Team USA when the LA Olympics roll around. Sure, he will be 38 at the time, but, hey, Tom Brady was winning Super Bowls beyond that age. Lately, Doucette has drawn some headlines for his stance on NFL players contending for roster spots. His take remains simple — beat them out and welcome to the team. Advertisement 'We all are family together. We don't treat each other differently. We all compete and we want the gold medal,' Doucette said. 'So if those (NFL) guys come out and try out, they make the team, congrats to them — they're one of us." The rules The games this weekend will be played following the IFAF's 5-on-5 rules. It's the same version fans will see in LA in 2028. The field is smaller than an NFL field by about half: 50 yards long — along with 10 yards for each end zone — and 25 yards wide. A stop is made by ripping off one of the flags attached by a belt to a ball carrier's waist. An offensive touchdown is worth six points with the subsequent extra-point attempt varying in value. Advertisement Soaring popularity There was a time not too long ago when receiver/center/defensive back Ashlea Klam had to explain the sport she plays. Not anymore. Not after flag football was added to the LA Olympics program, along with cricket, baseball-softball, lacrosse and squash, in October 2023. With the NFL on board, the visibility has only skyrocketed. Klam plays at Keiser University in Florida, which is one of numerous NAIA schools that now have programs. Being in LA this weekend, it's hard for Klam not to think about LA 2028. 'I always think about LA 2028,' said Klam, who bypassed scholarship offers in track and field to concentrate on flag football. 'I still feel like I'm celebrating, just knowing that it's in the Olympics for real.' Advertisement The action Among the events this weekend: — The Select Bowl. This is a chance for U.S. national team coaches to scout and identify rising stars in the sport. — The Junior International Cup. The 15- and 17-under boys' and girls' teams will take part in a tournament featuring squads from around the globe. — International Bowl. This will be a chance to see some of the top players in a series of international friendlies. Australia, Canada, Germany and Japan are also on hand. 'It's incredibly exciting to see the passion and enthusiasm around the sport," Hallenbeck said. 'The more traditional tackle fan or football fan is now starting to really understand what 5-on-5 flag football is and what a great addition to overall football fandom it can be." ___ AP sports:
