Rutovic’s Late Counter Seals Breakthrough Gold in Astana

Boris Rutovic left Astana with the biggest result of his young career, taking gold at -90 kg after a tense final decided in the closing seconds. The 19-year-old Serbian came into the day with momentum and kept it going all the way to the top of the podium.

His run already had real weight before the medal matches even began. Rutovic defeated Mihail Latisev of Moldova and Frank De Wit of the Netherlands on the way to the final, showing the same open, proactive approach that made him stand out throughout the competition.

The final turned on one sharp reaction with only seconds left.

The gold medal contest against Guilherme Schimidt of Brazil was not a smooth-flowing battle at first. Both judoka had trouble finding their usual rhythm, and their attacks were often shut down before they could truly develop. There was commitment from both sides, but for most of normal time neither athlete could produce a score.

As the clock moved toward the end, the pressure became impossible to ignore. Then came the decisive exchange. Schimidt attacked with O-soto-gari, but Rutovic was ready. He turned the attempt into a counter and scored yuko with just 18 seconds left on the clock.

That was enough.

There was still a short burst of time remaining, but no further score followed, and Rutovic’s late action became the difference between silver and gold. In such a tight final, that one moment of awareness and timing changed everything.

The result marked Rutovic’s first Grand Slam gold medal, achieved at only his second Grand Slam appearance. It was a breakthrough performance from a teenager who did not hesitate to engage strong opponents and trust his own judo under pressure.

After the event, Rutovic said he was incredibly proud of the victory and noted that he often competes against older opponents, which pushes him to give more and rely on his strength. He also said winning the final in Kazakhstan felt special because the crowd truly understands judo.

At 19, the Serbian has put himself firmly on the radar.

There was also a European presence elsewhere in the category. Frank De Wit of the Netherlands reached a bronze medal contest but lost to Aidar Arapov of Kazakhstan in a high-scoring match. Arapov first took the lead, De Wit responded to level the contest, but the Kazakh regained control with Waza-ari from Ko-uchi-gake and later added a second Waza-ari on the counter.

Mihail Latisev of Moldova claimed the other bronze medal. In his match against Rafael Macedo of Brazil, the Moldovan made an immediate impact, scoring yuko with Seoi-otoshi after only 15 seconds.

The final standings at -90 kg in Astana ended with Rutovic on top, Schimidt in silver-medal position, and bronze medals for Arapov and Latisev. For Rutovic, though, this category belonged to one fearless finish and one unforgettable step forward.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation