First day of the IWF Junior World Championships in Tashkent.
After a long wait, a successful opening day of one of the last qualifying championships for Tokyo 2020 took place. The IWF Junior World Championships in Tashkent had 3 bodyweight categories in action on the first day.
Women 45 kg Group A
Turkey dominated the field in the women 45kg category. Cansu Bektas (TUR) was the one who stood out getting the Gold medal in Snatch, Clean & Jerk and Total. Her compatriot, Melisa Gunes won Silver medal in Total and Bronze in Snatch. The Total podium was completed by Teodora-Luminita Hincu (MDA) and in Snatch Lada Latushkina from Russia. Cosmina Adriana Pana (ROU) did not have a successful attempt in Snatch, however she won the Silver medal in C&J.
Men 55 kg Group A
In the second round, before the opening ceremony, the men’s 55 KG category was contested. The clear leader was Ablay Auyelkhanov (KAZ) who won in Snatch and Clean & Jerk and Total, leading the overall table with a difference of 15 kg over the local Ogabek Nafasov (UZB) who won the Silver in Snatch, C&J and Total. Latin America shared the bronze. In Snatch, Juan Miguel Martinez Gonzalez (PAN) won the Bronze. This was the first medal for Panama after 82 years, so it was a historic moment. On the other hand, Benjamin José Zurita Vallejo (ECU) won the Bronze medals in Total and in the C&J after the final unsuccessful attempt (131 kg) of Federico La Barbera (ITA).
Women 49 kg Group A
Before the conclusion of the first day, the Women 49 kg Group A competition took place. Windy Aisah Cantika (INA) dominated the competition from the start and managed to take gold in Snatch, C&J and Total with a 6 kg lead of her competitor Mihaela-Valentina Cambei (ROU) who won 3 Silver medals. Russia’s Elizaveta Zhatkina took bronze in C&J and Total. Giulia Imperio (ITA) climbed to third place in Snatch and added a bronze for Italy.
Colombian Manuela Berrio competed in the extra category. Since last year’s Junior World Championships was postponed due to the health situation of COVID-19, those who were still juniors in 2020 were given the possibility to compete next to the juniors this year even though they are already in the seniors. Those who are competing as “extras” are not able to win medals at the Junior World Championships, they are only here for the qualification points for Tokyo.
