Recap: 2024 Junior World Championships in Dushanbe

The 2024 Junior World Championships in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, wrapped up after four intense days of competition, showcasing the next generation of elite judokas. Among the standout performances, Team USA delivered a Top 5 and Top 7 finish in their respective categories.

Jonathan Yang Delivered a Stellar Performance

The current Cadet World Champion made a strong impression in his first Junior World Championships in the competitive -60kg division. He managed a 3-2 record, ultimately placing 5th.

Alex Semeneko's Impressive Run in the +100kg Category

Hatashita-sponsored athlete Alex Semeneko had a standout day, finishing 7th in the +100kg category. Semeneko kicked off his campaign with a thrilling victory over India’s Yash Viayran. He dominated the contest with a well-executed de-ashi-harai for wazari, followed by a decisive Ippon finish with a perfectly timed kata-guruma, just 20 seconds before the match's end.

In his second bout, Semeneko faced Kazakhstan's Zhantilek Nurtilepuly. The match went deep into overtime, but Semeneko came out on top, throwing his opponent for Ippon with a o-soto-gari. However, in the quarterfinals, Semeneko encountered eventual gold medalist Denis Batchaev, representing the IJF. The match was a tough battle, but Alex was edged out by three shidos (penalties).

In the repechage, Semeneko once again faced fierce competition, this time from Saba Kardava of Georgia, who would go on to win the bronze medal. Despite a valiant effort, Semeneko lost the match by three shidos, securing a respectable 7th place overall.

Other Hatashita-Sponsored Athlete Performances

• Dominic Rodriguez put up a strong fight, securing a victory against 2023 Cadet World Champion Boris Rutovic. Unfortunately, his journey ended in his next bout when he lost to local favorite Muhammad Yusufzoda of Tajikistan.
• Daniel Liubmovski faced a marathon of a match in the -100kg division, going four minutes into golden score before being countered with a tani-otoshi by Luka Evtimishvili, ending his run early in the tournament
• Chris Velazco was similarly met with a tough challenge in the -60kg category, losing in overtime to Vincenzo Manferlotti with a swift de-ashi-harai, concluding his competition in the early rounds.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations not only to our Hatashita-sponsored athletes but also to the entire Team USA for their remarkable efforts at the 2024 Junior World Championships. A special shoutout goes to Alex Semeneko for his outstanding 7th place finish in the +100kg division and to the current Cadet World Champion, Jonathan Yang for an incredible 5th place finish in his debut at the Junior level.