The 2017 Suzuki World Judo Championships saw Mongolia break Japan’s strangehold over the gold medals on Wednesday as Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist DORJSUREN Sumiya became their country’s second female world champion in the history of Mongolia and first non-Japanese winner here in Budapest, in front of the President of Mongolia, H.E Battulga Khaltmaa.

After an epic World Championships final between DORJSUREN and world number one YOSHIDA Tsukasa (JPN) it was the Mongolian who won on the IJF’s biggest stage after a 15-minute duel for gold which teased, tantalised and elated the crowd all at the same time.

The President of Mongolia, H.E. BATTULGA Khaltmaa, who is also President of the Mongolian Judo Association, has often worked out with his country’s national team at their training centre in Ulaanbaatar and was on the edge of his seat for the duration of the contest.

H.E. BATTULGA Khaltmaa watched the final from his matside position only metres away from the action and was swiftly congratulated by all those around him as the crowd was awash with Mongolian flags and supporters who sang the loudest anthem of the competition so far.

H.E. BATTULGA Khaltmaa said: “The gold medal is very important. We are here to get the gold medal. We were planning on getting the gold medal in -48kg category but we could only get the silver.

“Today is a great day for Mongolia and we have still good judoka to come. We won against Japan and took the first title for a non-Japanese athlete. France won its first medal of the competition and we have now four medals. Mongolian judo is becoming the number one sport in my country. But judo is much more than a sport. It is discipline and education, as well as respect, and in judo we bow to each other. Today we have discovered the new heroes of Mongolia.”

After a scoreless opening four minutes, the seconds and minutes elapsed as both judoka were unrelenting in their bid for gold on day three in Hungary. At the six minute mark of golden score, the crowd were out of their seats clapping trying to energise both judoka and they didn’t want the all-action final to end. DORJSUREN was manoeuvring for an opening and after nine minutes of golden score she threw YOSHIDA with a koshi-guruma for a waza-ari which was worth world gold. DORJSUREN reacted by throwing her hands up in the air before tapping the Mongolian flag on her judogi to show the world where she comes from and where the world title was going to.

Published Date:2017-08-31