Biibolatov Breaks Through in a Wild Cadet Worlds -81 kg Draw

Daniial Biibolatov was the standout name in the cadet world judo -81 kg category after taking gold in a division that turned upside down early. At this Cadet World Championships weight, none of the top four seeds reached the final, and the draw kept shifting all the way to the medal matches.

Aleks Krivec of Slovenia had looked on course for a deep run. The top seed won through to the quarter-final, but his progress was stopped there by Biibolatov, an unseeded Russian who kept building momentum at exactly the right time. Krivec fought back through the repechage to reach the final block, but that was not the finish he had been aiming for.

The gold medal contest paired Biibolatov with Aykhan Hasanli of Azerbaijan. It lasted only a little over a minute, but the key moment was not rushed. Biibolatov worked patiently in ne-waza, improving his position step by step, and the referee allowed the action to continue because the progression was clear.

From there, Biibolatov tightened his lapel grips and adjusted his body position until the opening finally came. His shime-waza left no route out, forcing the submission and sealing the cadet world title. In a category packed with surprises, he was the one who stayed sharp when it mattered most.

After the final, Biibolatov said he was extremely happy to win the world championship after a long build-up and many difficulties. He also explained that he did not follow one fixed tactic, instead adapting his judo depending on whether his opponent was right-handed or left-handed.

Biibolatov turned patience on the ground into a world title.

For European fans, the bronze medal contest involving Aleks Krivec brought a strong response after the quarter-final disappointment. Facing Japan’s Koki Umeno, the Slovenian chose an unusual approach and spent the contest chasing a turnover instead of forcing the pace elsewhere.

That persistence paid off. Krivec eventually found the opening on the ground and held Umeno for Ippon, earning Slovenia’s second medal of the tournament. It was a composed recovery and an important result after coming close to the medal rounds from the front of the draw.

The second bronze match was tighter and slower to open up. Rustam Kashipov and Ivan Nikolchev both struggled at first to fully commit to attacks, but as the rhythm settled, Kashipov found the breakthrough with a Yuko from De-ashi-harai around the halfway mark.

With more confidence after scoring, Kashipov managed the remainder of the contest well. He added a Waza-ari in ne-waza and then controlled the final seconds to secure the second bronze medal.

The final podium in -81 kg ended with Biibolatov on top, Hasanli in silver, and bronze medals for Krivec and Kashipov. In a division where the seeds fell away and the script kept changing, Biibolatov finished the day as the athlete who made the biggest statement.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation