Japan shines as Tanaka claims -70kg gold and Murao triumphs in all-Japanese -90kg final
It's Day 5 in Budapest at the OTP Bank World Judo Championships and the action rolls on.
At -70kg, Lara CVJETKO is no stranger to World finals, but this time she was out for gold. The Croatian judoka returned to the big stage with more experience, greater composure, and a renewed hunger to stand on the top of the podium. CVJETKO looked like an athlete on a mission – ready to turn silver into gold.
Her opponent was Shiho TANAKA – a world bronze medallist herself. She had confidently worked her way through the draw. Each contest saw her judo sharpen, her intent clearer. This was her chance to move up the podium and she stepped onto the tatami with gold firmly in her sights.
With both athletes hungry for their first World title, the final was set for a high-level showdown. A golden score yuko from TANAKA was the decider. The Japanese judoka rose from the tatami as a World Champion.
Hungary Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade Mr Péter SZIJJÁRTÓ awarded the medals.
At -90kg, Sanshiro MURAO was on fire, ippon in every contest on his way to the gold medal match. An amazing run through the preliminaries, with a dominant performance, had the judo world watching closely. Each match was a showcase of control, timing and explosive technique.
MURAO looked unstoppable, was this finally his year to take the top of the podium and find his place among judo's elite?
Facing him was his team-mate, reigning World Champion Goki TAJIMA who despite the pressure of defending his title, worked his way through the preliminaries. As the stakes rose, so did his judo with an outstanding semi-final ippon. He was finding his rhythm at the right moment, but was it enough to become a two time World Champion?
In the final the two Japanese judoka took the contest to golden score. It was a tense, tactical fight. The victory was MURAO's, he would leave Budapest as World Champion.
North Macedonia Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade Mr Timčo MUCUNSKI awarded the medals.
See you tomorrow for more Judo!
Six leaders from the Group of Seven – or G7 – discussed Russia's war in Ukraine and the Israel-Iran conflict; however, they were unable to achieve significant agreements on these and numerous other pressing matters.
It concluded a summit that was forced to demonstrate how the coalition of affluent nations could still influence global policy, despite the premature departure of US President Donald Trump.
During the concluding sessions on Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, along with leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, were accompanied by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO chief Mark Rutte.
'We need support from allies and I'm here,' Zelenskyy said, before adding, 'We are ready for the peace negotiations, unconditional ceasefire. I think it's very important. But for this, we need pressure.'
The remaining leaders agreed to jointly attempt to combat what they called non-market policies that could jeopardise global access to critical minerals.
They also pledged to limit the downsides of artificial intelligence on jobs and the environment, while still embracing the potential of the 'technological revolution.'
There was agreement on various other matters, yet despite the summit's intention to demonstrate solidarity on major global issues, no collective statement regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine was released.
Zelenskyy was scheduled to meet with Trump as world leaders convened at the Canadian Rocky Mountain resort of Kananaskis, however, that meeting was cancelled after Trump opted to leave the summit a day early on Tuesday citing escalations in the Middle East.
Additionally, the United States had earlier signed an agreement that allowed American access to Ukraine's extensive mineral resources.
A senior Canadian official who briefed reporters at the summit said the Washington opposed a joint statement on Ukraine amid its efforts to promote negotiations with Russia.
In Trump's absence, the remaining six leaders held an extensive session on Ukraine. Lacking unanimity, individual leaders also met with Zelenskyy to reassure him of their continued support to Kyiv and their commitment to ensure his country is equipped to fend off Russia.
The summit was largely overshadowed by the showdown between Israel and Iran over the latter's nuclear programme, which has the potential to escalate. Israel initiated an aerial bombardment campaign targeting Iran, while Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned against the US and other powers pushing for regime change in Iran, suggesting it could destabilize the greater Middle East. Netanyahu had earlier urged Iranians to use Israel's strikes as a means of toppling the government.
"I believe the greatest mistake today would be to pursue regime change in Iran through military means, as that would lead to chaos,' said Macron.
Before leaving, Trump joined the other leaders in issuing a statement which stated that Iran 'can never have a nuclear weapon' and calling for a 'de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
17 hours ago
- Euronews
Judo: Kim strikes gold for Korea, Tasoev defends heavyweight crown on Day 7 in Budapest
Day 7 closes out the individual competition at the OTP Bank World Judo Championships and it's time for the heavyweights to take centre stage in Budapest. Before the finals, IJF President Mr. Marius Vizer awarded diplomas recognising achievements in judo. And the traditional flag-passing ceremony was held to commemorate the closing of the event, as Hungary passed the IJF flag to Azerbaijan — with Baku set to host the World Championships in 2026 where judo would return to the land of fire. At +78kg, Hayun KIM had been making her mark on the international stage, and in Budapest she delivered her best performance yet. Could she take the title? Facing her was Japan's Mao ARAI who had managed to secure her place in the final after a fantastic performance in the preliminaries. ARAI looked every bit a contender for the World title. The final was a tight, tactical battle taken into Golden Score. It was Hayun KIM who would wear the red backpatch for the Republic of Korea's first gold medal! OTP Bank Chairman & IJF Honorary President Dr Sandor CSANYI awarded the medals. At +100kg, Guram TUSHISHVILI was on fire — storming his way through the preliminaries with explosive throws and unstoppable momentum. The Georgian powerhouse looked focused and fearless. He was here to reclaim the title he first won in 2018. Facing him in the final was Inal TASOEV, the 2023 World Champion. TASOEV had delivered a solid performance and was aiming to add a second World title to his collection. In the final, TUSHISHVILI led with a yuko, but it was TASOEV who came back with a waza-ari and managed to keep the Georgian at bay, claiming his second World title! 5 time Olympic and 12 time World Champion, Mr Teddy RINER awarded the medals. Join us tomorrow in Budapest where the Mixed Team competition kicks off. 3 men 3 women, one team, one goal. Don't miss it! US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he'll decide within two weeks whether or not Washington will get directly involved military in the conflict between Israel and Iran. Trump says two weeks will be enough to decide whether a diplomatic solution is possible. The conflict between Israel and Iran has entered the eighth day, with both sides trading hundreds of missile strikes. Dozens of Israelis were killed in cross-border Iranian strikes, while Tehran suffered hundreds of fatalities. The conflict started last week in the early hours of Friday as Israel carried out a surprise attack on Tehran, targeting military and nuclear sites. Israel says its decision to attack was to guarantee its survival as it grew increasingly concerned about Iran's rapidly developing nuclear programme. On Thursday, a missile struck the vicinity of the European Union delegation in Tel Aviv, according to several sources consulted by Euronews. The origin of the missile was not immediately clear, but it was presumed to be a projectile fired by Iran against Israel amid the military escalation between the two countries, which is now on its seventh day. The distance between the EU delegation and the strike is believed to be between 400 and 500 metres, two sources indicated. The strike happened on Thursday near a district where several European embassies are located, including those from the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, North Macedonia and Ireland, as well as the Tel Aviv-Savidor Central railway station. A spokesperson for the European Commission said the personnel were safe. "While no EU staff were injured today, we note with grave concern that diplomatic premises have been damaged in the attacks by Iran," the spokesperson said. "Under no circumstances, civilian areas and infrastructures as well as foreign diplomatic staff and missions should be targeted or attacked." Earlier, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after Tehran struck a major hospital in southern Israel and hit residential buildings near Tel Aviv, wounding at least 240 people. Israel's military 'has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist," said Katz. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to moderate his approach to the conflict with Iran. According to a German government source, Merz underlined the importance of "diplomatic solutions" to Israel. On Friday, Germany is expected to hold nuclear talks with its European partners and the Iranian foreign minister at its permanent representation in Geneva. Iran also appears unwilling to back down as they vowed to continue fighting to defend their land, people and sovereignty against the threat Israel poses. In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Iran's Ambassador to the UN Ali Bahraini stated that Iran's main priority currently is 'to stop aggression, to stop attacks'. "I personally cannot imagine there would be a strong probability at the moment for a kind of diplomatic idea or initiative because for us it would be inappropriate if we think or talk at the moment about anything rather than stopping the aggressors," Bahraini noted. He however noted that Israel is not an entity 'with which somebody can negotiate', adding that Tehran's response must be resolute in order to show Israel that 'it is not able to cross the red lines against Iran'. Bahraini also slammed the EU, as he stated that the bloc carries some of the blame for the conflict breaking out. "We believe that the minimum thing Europeans can do is to very explicitly condemn Israel and stop their support for Israel," Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva Ali Bahraini said in an interview for Euronews. Speaking on a looming US attack amid Trump's recent threats, Bahraini asserted that Iran would respond firmly to any attack by Washington on its land, adding that attacks on US soil are not off the table.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Euronews
Judo: Bellandi conquers -78kg, Kanikovskiy dominates -100kg on Day 6 in Budapest
It's day 6 of the OTP Bank World Judo Championships. At -78kg, Germany's Anna Monta OLEK stepped onto the tatami with confidence. Already a Grand Slam winner and one of the most consistent young talents in the category. OLEK arrived in Budapest ready to challenge the world's best and prove that she belongs among them. Could this be her moment? Facing her was Italy's Alice BELLANDI – the reigning Olympic Champion and one of the most dominant forces in the category. With her trademark intensity and experience on her side, BELLANDI was out to add the World title to her already impressive resume. Her sights were on gold. In the final, everything was on the line. After an intense Golden Score it was Alice BELLANDI who came out with the World title after finding the opening she needed and sealing the victory with a decisive score. Reigning Olympic, and now World Champion. Undisputed and unstoppable, BELLANDI stands alone at the top. Minister of the Prime-Minister's Office of Hungary Mr Gergely GULYÁS awarded the medals. At -100kg, Matvey KANIKOVSKIY was in fantastic form, driving his way through the preliminaries and into the final. With confident judo, he controlled his contests and his intent was clear. He was headed for the biggest moment of his career. Dota ARAI was the man who would contest the gold medal match. Throughout the day he showed grit and determination to power past his opponents! In the final, it was Matvey KANIKOVSKIY who rose to the occasion. Scoring with a waza-ari and transitioning into osaekomi. Ippon – and with it, the red backpatch. A dominant finish to an outstanding day. MET Group Chairman & CEO Mr Benjamin LAKATOS awarded the medals. Join us tomorrow for the heavyweights!
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
Japan shines as Tanaka claims -70kg gold and Murao triumphs in all-Japanese -90kg final
It's Day 5 in Budapest at the OTP Bank World Judo Championships and the action rolls on. At -70kg, Lara CVJETKO is no stranger to World finals, but this time she was out for gold. The Croatian judoka returned to the big stage with more experience, greater composure, and a renewed hunger to stand on the top of the podium. CVJETKO looked like an athlete on a mission – ready to turn silver into gold. Her opponent was Shiho TANAKA – a world bronze medallist herself. She had confidently worked her way through the draw. Each contest saw her judo sharpen, her intent clearer. This was her chance to move up the podium and she stepped onto the tatami with gold firmly in her sights. With both athletes hungry for their first World title, the final was set for a high-level showdown. A golden score yuko from TANAKA was the decider. The Japanese judoka rose from the tatami as a World Champion. Hungary Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade Mr Péter SZIJJÁRTÓ awarded the medals. At -90kg, Sanshiro MURAO was on fire, ippon in every contest on his way to the gold medal match. An amazing run through the preliminaries, with a dominant performance, had the judo world watching closely. Each match was a showcase of control, timing and explosive technique. MURAO looked unstoppable, was this finally his year to take the top of the podium and find his place among judo's elite? Facing him was his team-mate, reigning World Champion Goki TAJIMA who despite the pressure of defending his title, worked his way through the preliminaries. As the stakes rose, so did his judo with an outstanding semi-final ippon. He was finding his rhythm at the right moment, but was it enough to become a two time World Champion? In the final the two Japanese judoka took the contest to golden score. It was a tense, tactical fight. The victory was MURAO's, he would leave Budapest as World Champion. North Macedonia Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade Mr Timčo MUCUNSKI awarded the medals. See you tomorrow for more Judo! Six leaders from the Group of Seven – or G7 – discussed Russia's war in Ukraine and the Israel-Iran conflict; however, they were unable to achieve significant agreements on these and numerous other pressing matters. It concluded a summit that was forced to demonstrate how the coalition of affluent nations could still influence global policy, despite the premature departure of US President Donald Trump. During the concluding sessions on Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, along with leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, were accompanied by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO chief Mark Rutte. 'We need support from allies and I'm here,' Zelenskyy said, before adding, 'We are ready for the peace negotiations, unconditional ceasefire. I think it's very important. But for this, we need pressure.' The remaining leaders agreed to jointly attempt to combat what they called non-market policies that could jeopardise global access to critical minerals. They also pledged to limit the downsides of artificial intelligence on jobs and the environment, while still embracing the potential of the 'technological revolution.' There was agreement on various other matters, yet despite the summit's intention to demonstrate solidarity on major global issues, no collective statement regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine was released. Zelenskyy was scheduled to meet with Trump as world leaders convened at the Canadian Rocky Mountain resort of Kananaskis, however, that meeting was cancelled after Trump opted to leave the summit a day early on Tuesday citing escalations in the Middle East. Additionally, the United States had earlier signed an agreement that allowed American access to Ukraine's extensive mineral resources. A senior Canadian official who briefed reporters at the summit said the Washington opposed a joint statement on Ukraine amid its efforts to promote negotiations with Russia. In Trump's absence, the remaining six leaders held an extensive session on Ukraine. Lacking unanimity, individual leaders also met with Zelenskyy to reassure him of their continued support to Kyiv and their commitment to ensure his country is equipped to fend off Russia. The summit was largely overshadowed by the showdown between Israel and Iran over the latter's nuclear programme, which has the potential to escalate. Israel initiated an aerial bombardment campaign targeting Iran, while Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes. French President Emmanuel Macron warned against the US and other powers pushing for regime change in Iran, suggesting it could destabilize the greater Middle East. Netanyahu had earlier urged Iranians to use Israel's strikes as a means of toppling the government. "I believe the greatest mistake today would be to pursue regime change in Iran through military means, as that would lead to chaos,' said Macron. Before leaving, Trump joined the other leaders in issuing a statement which stated that Iran 'can never have a nuclear weapon' and calling for a 'de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza.'
