Aurora Ferro settles Cadet European -44 kg final in golden score

Aurora Ferro was the name to watch in the -44 kg division in Gran Canaria, and the Italian judoka delivered in style. At the Cadet European Championships, the top seed and world number four stayed in control from her first contest to her last, finishing her run with a dramatic golden score victory.

The category brought together a strong field of 21 judoka, but Ferro never seemed shaken by the pressure around her. She moved through her half of the draw with authority, matching the expectations that came with her seeding and ranking.

Much of the bracket followed the form book. Three of the four top seeds reached the semi-finals, with the main surprise coming from Pool D. There, another Italian, Sofia Longo, took her chance to break into the medal rounds before her run was stopped by Yagmur Yilmazturk of Türkiye.

That result created a final with real weight behind it. Italy and Türkiye both carried strong history in the category, and the gold medal match offered one more chapter in that story.

The contest itself was as tight as expected. Ferro and Yilmazturk attacked from the opening exchange, keeping the pace high and forcing each other into a constant battle for grip, position and initiative. It was a final full of movement and intent, but regular time passed without either athlete finding the score that would decide the title.

Then came the moment that changed everything.

Ferro needed only 16 seconds of golden score to take the title.

As soon as the extra period began, Ferro committed fully and threw with yoko-tomoe-nage. After a final that had stayed on a knife edge, the technique finally broke the deadlock and secured the Cadet European crown for Italy.

The reaction said just as much as the score. Once the result was confirmed, Ferro ran straight into her coach's arms, overwhelmed after turning months of work into continental gold.

For Ferro, it was the perfect answer to the expectations she brought to Gran Canaria. She arrived as the leading name in the field and left as European champion, closing the day with one decisive attack when the pressure was at its highest.

Italy's top seed finished the job when it mattered most.

Source: EJU.net