Sanshiro Murao’s decisive route back to -90 kg gold

Sanshiro Murao reclaimed the -90 kg world title in Baku with a composed, commanding day of Judo. The Japanese judoka came through a field packed with rivalries, rising talent and high-pressure contests before delivering a sharp finish in the final.

A major early test came against Lasha Bekauri, a rival Murao had specifically prepared to face. Murao explained after the competition that he had developed tactical solutions for that contest as part of a wider plan, while keeping his ultimate focus on becoming world champion again.

In the final, Murao faced compatriot and fellow world champion Goki Tajima. He took control with a Waza-ari after countering Tajima’s tentative attack, then reset calmly before producing the decisive score. A Ko-soto-gari for Ippon ended the contest and secured gold, keeping the red back patch with Murao for another year.

Murao turned careful preparation into a clear statement on the biggest stage.

Tajima finished with silver after an all-Japanese final, while the bronze-medal contests delivered their own dramatic finishes. Murad Fatiyev of Azerbaijan defeated Serbia’s Nemanja Majdov in Golden Score, throwing with Sumi-gaeshi for Yuko after a powerful, committed battle. The medal was Azerbaijan’s fifth at these world championships, a national record.

Serbia’s Boris Rutovic claimed the other bronze in a tense contest against France’s Maxime-Gael Ngayap-Hambou. Both athletes attacked aggressively, but penalties became decisive as the contest progressed. In Golden Score, Ngayap-Hambou received a third Shido after defending too early and going to the ground, handing Rutovic the podium place.

For the European athletes in the category, Rutovic’s bronze was the standout result, while Majdov and Ngayap-Hambou both finished fifth. Murao, however, was the athlete who found the defining answers when it mattered most, closing a dramatic -90 kg day with another world title.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation