Kim, Tasoev seal last individual golds from World Judo Championships

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2025-06-20 09:13:15

Gold medalist Kim Hayun (L) of South Korea celebrates during the awarding ceremony for the women's +78kg event at the IJF Judo World Championships 2025 in Budapest, Hungary on June 19, 2025. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, June 19 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Kim Ya-yun claimed her first world title in the women's +78kg category, while Inal Tasoev defended his crown in the men's +100kg on the final day of individual competition at the World Judo Championships on Thursday.

The women's heavyweight gold-medal bout was an all-Asian contest between Kim and Japan's Mao Arai. Kim secured the win with superior composure and posture throughout the match.

Lee Hyeon-ji of South Korea and Romane Dicko of France took bronze in the category.

In the men's heavyweight division, 2023 world champion Tasoev of Russia battled Georgia's Guram Tushishvili in a tightly contested final, with the lead changing twice. Tasoev earned a waza-ari to overcome Tushishvili's earlier yuko and successfully retained his world title.

Temur Rakhimov of Tajikistan and Kim Min-jong of South Korea shared the bronze.

After seven days of individual events, Japan topped the medal standings with six golds, four silvers, and four bronzes.

A total of 172 athletes from 16 nations and regions are set to compete in the mixed team events on Friday. ■

Gold medalist Inal Tasoev from neutral athletes of the International Judo Federation (IJF) poses during the awarding ceremony for the men's +100kg event at the IJF Judo World Championships 2025 in Budapest, Hungary, June 19, 2025. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Inal Tasoev (top) from neutral athletes of the International Judo Federation (IJF) and Guram Tushishvili of Georgia compete during the men's +100kg final at the IJF Judo World Championships 2025 in Budapest, Hungary, June 19, 2025. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Inal Tasoev (R) from neutral athletes of the International Judo Federation (IJF) and Guram Tushishvili of Georgia compete during the men's +100kg final at the IJF Judo World Championships 2025 in Budapest, Hungary, June 19, 2025. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Silver medalist Guram Tushishvili (1st L) of Georgia, gold medalist Inal Tasoev (2nd L) from neutral athletes of the International Judo Federation (IJF), bronze medalists Temur Rakhimov (2nd R) of Tajikistan and Kim Minjong of South Korea pose during the awarding ceremony for the men's +100kg event at the IJF Judo World Championships 2025 in Budapest, Hungary, June 19, 2025. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Inal Tasoev (L) from neutral athletes of the International Judo Federation (IJF) and Guram Tushishvili of Georgia compete during the men's +100kg final at the IJF Judo World Championships 2025 in Budapest, Hungary, June 19, 2025. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Kim Hayun (L) of South Korea competes with Arai Mao of Japan during the women's +78kg final at the IJF Judo World Championships 2025 in Budapest, Hungary on June 19, 2025. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Gold medalist Kim Hayun (2nd L) of South Korea, silver medalist Arai Mao (1st L) of Japan, bronze medalists Lee Hyeonji (2nd R) of South Korea and Romane Dicko of France pose during the awarding ceremony for the women's +78kg event at the IJF Judo World Championships 2025 in Budapest, Hungary on June 19, 2025. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Kim Hayun (R) of South Korea competes with Arai Mao of Japan during the women's +78kg final at the IJF Judo World Championships 2025 in Budapest, Hungary on June 19, 2025. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)