After five fantastic days of fighting, the third IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi came to a close with an exhilarating final day.
Finalising the Youth A category, we saw Serbia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic claim their first medals of the tournament, whilst South Africa and Spain claimed their first gold.
Girls
Kicking off the start of the days finals with a gold medal was Ukrainian fighter Luibov Karaush, who defeated Lebanese athlete Angelina Neaymi via unanimous decision.
Aliia Saalyeva earned Kyrgyzstan a second medal of the championships by finishing in joint third place with Team USA’s in the Atomweight division.
Zamzam Al Hammadi secured the UAE their last gold of the championships by winning unanimously against Team USA’s Xerena Sikes in the Strawweight division.
Sara Dembinska won Poland their first medal of the day following a successful medal flurry on day three. Mia Goradze of Kazakhstan also won bronze for her country.
The Flyweight division finals were full of surprises. Team Romania won gold and bronze medals through Mirela Elisa Cojocaru and Cicio Sara, the former defeating Germany’s Katharina Roesen who claimed silver; Germany’s first medal of the championships.
Wrapping up the girls fights got the Championships, Jana Lamacova defeated Slovakia’s Natalia Ruzova in the Featherweight final to make the Czech Republic’s first medal of the Youth World’s a gold.
Frida Sofia Covarrubias Vigyeras claimed the bronze medal for Team Mexico.
Boys
Coenie Lamprecht won South Africa their first gold medal of the competition in style, forcing Tajikistan’s Mukhammad Saidzoda into a first-round submission in the flyweight final. Saeed Alnauimi and Amrullio Amriddin collected the bronze medals for both the UAE and Tajikistan.
Ramazanov Gazimagomed claimed the highlines for Kyrgyzstan by securing his countries first gold medal of the championships by beating Team USA’s Max Stary via unanimous decision in the Featherweight final.
Thani Almehairi and Muhammadjon Pirov claimed the bronze medals in what has been a successful tournament for both the UAE and Tajikistan respectively.
Tajikistan’s Muhammadjon Abdullozoda earned a deserved gold medal in the Welterweight division after beating Team Ireland’s Allen Kaczor by unanimous decision. Fellow Irishman Jack Connolly and Kazakhstan fighter Chingiz Nurakhmetov claimed the bronze medals.
The penultimate fight of the tournament was a tight affair, but it was Kazakhstan’s Bektas Faizolla who just edged Kaillum Leech of Ireland to win the Light Heavyweight gold medal. Fellow Kazakhstani fighter Elnur Kiakpay joined Faizolla on the podium but in third position alongside Abdullo Shoev of Tajikistan.
The Youth World Championships were brought to a close in spectacular fashion by Nemanja Blagojevic. The Serbian forced Kazakhstan’s Radomir Morozov into a submission via anaconda to win gold as Serbia’s first medal of the championships.
Zito Yodgorov or Uzbekistan and Volodymyr Shcherban of Ukraine claimed the bronze medals to wrap up the podium.
A fantastic end to what has been a fantastic Youth World Championships. Every single athlete, coach, staff member, sponsor and organiser can take great pride in having played a significant role in this events success.
We cannot wait to return in 2025!
