Four gold medals in one day, a statement of strength from Europe. On day three of the World Junior Championships Lima 2025, European judoka claimed four of the five remaining titles. Although the final block opened with Brazil’s victory in the -90kg category, from that moment on, Europe took charge.

In the -78kg category, Maria Hanstede (NED) shone with confidence, claiming gold after five straight wins. Among her victories was top seed and 2025 junior European champion, Lila Mazzaroni (FRA), whom she defeated in the semi-final with a stunning counter-attack. In the final, Hanstede faced the 2024 junior world silver medallist, Mathilda Sophie Niemeyer (GER). With less than a minute remaining, the Dutch judoka struck again with her trademark counter, earning a yuko lead and holding it to the end. Against all odds, Hanstede secured gold, and impressively, not a single opponent managed to score against her all day.

Next to climb the top of the podium was Milan Bulaja (SRB). The 20-year-old arrived in Lima as the reigning junior European champion and world number one, and he lived up to the billing in the -100kg category. Bulaja powered through four bouts, defeating Bogdan Petre (ROU), Anton Fedin (IJF), and Mukhammadali Zoirov (UZB) on his way to the final. There, he met Shokei Hirano (JPN) in a tense contest. At the one-minute mark, Bulaja seized his moment, scoring yuko with a sharp sode-tsurikomi-goshi. Despite picking up two shidos in the final minute, the Serbian judoka held firm and exalted in a roar of triumph as victory was confirmed.

In the +78kg category, Celia Cancan (FRA), another world number one and reigning junior European champion, made her statement loud and clear. After taking silver at last year’s junior worlds, Lima was her moment of redemption. She won all four contests with absolute control, conceding no scores and collecting just one penalty all day. In the final, she needed less than a minute to dispatch Umida Nigmatova (UZB), scoring waza-ari with ko-soto-gake before sealing the deal with uchi-mata for ippon. The French team stood in celebration as Cancan roared in pure relief and joy.

Finally, Bislan Katamardov (IJF) delivered a stunning finish to Europe’s day of dominance. Unseeded but fresh off his junior European title, Katamardov blazed through the +100kg category, defeating three opponents before overcoming Matheo Akiana Mongo (FRA), the 2025 junior European bronze medallist, in the semi-final. The final lasted just 28 seconds. Katamardov threw Japan’s Gai Hatakeyama (JPN) with a blistering low seoi-nage for ippon, sealing his world crown. The 20-year-old remained composed, quietly absorbing the magnitude of his victory.

Europe claimed four golds in the 2024 edition of the junior worlds. In Lima, that number rose to six, a clear sign of the continent’s steady growth and continued dominance. The final day now awaits, with the ever-thrilling mixed team event set to close out the 2025 junior world championships. Follow all the action live at JudoTV.com.

Images: IJF / Tamara Kulumbegashvili

Author: Szandra Szogedi