Behruz Khojazoda, a famous Tajik wrestler, won a silver medal in his weight category up to 73 kg on the second day of the Hungary Masters-2023 judo tournament, which takes place from August 4 to 6 in Budapest, the capital of Hungary.
The Tajik judoka, who started the fight from the second round, after three victories over Manuel Lombardo from Italy, Daniel Szegedi from Hungary and the reigning world champion Nils Stump from Switzerland, reached the semifinals of this prestigious tournament, where he managed to overcome the Georgian wrestler Giorgi Terashvili.
In the final round, the Tajik judoka met with an opponent from Japan, Soichi Hashimoto, who won the bronze medal of the World Judo Championship in Doha-2023, and lost to his opponent with the third shido. He became the owner of a silver medal, a cash prize of 4 thousand dollars and replenished his rating by 1260 points.
This is already the second medal of the Tajik athlete in the framework of the Masterss tournament. Last year, Temur Rakhimov won the first medal at tournaments of such a high rank in the weight category over 100 kg: he won a silver medal at the international judo tournament “Jerusalem Masters 2022”.
Recall that on the first day of the competition, August 4, two Tajik athletes – Emomali Nurali and Obid Dzhebov – in the weight category up to 66 kg dropped out of further competition for prizes.
Obid Jebov lost to Bouba Daiki (France) in his first tatami bout. And Emomali Nurali, who managed to pass the first round, having won against Vazha Margvelashvili (Georgia), lost his next fight to an athlete from the UAE Narmandakh Bayanmunkh.
In accordance with the regulations of the International Judo Federation, athletes who occupy at least 38th place in the world ranking were invited to this international tournament. The victory on the tatami will allow to score the points necessary for a trip to next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
As part of the Tajik national team, five judokas went to the tournament: Emomali Nurali and Obid Dzhebov in the weight category up to 66 kg, Behruz Khojazoda – in the weight category up to 73 kg, Komronshokh Ustopirien – in the weight category up to 90 kg and Temur Rakhimov – in the weight category over 100 kg.
An invitation to participate in the Hungary Masters-2023 tournament was also issued to the famous Tajik wrestler Somon Mahmadbekov, who is in 13th place in the world ranking in the weight category up to 81 kg with 1300 points. However, he was unable to compete because, according to the Tajik Judo Federation, he was not issued a visa to travel to Hungary.
According to the International Judo Federation (IJF), 419 athletes (216 men and 203 women) from 59 countries representing five continents take part in the Hungary Masters 2023 tournament.
“Hungary Masters-2023” is held as part of the World Judo Tour of the International Judo Federation. The total monetary fund of the tournament is 196 thousand euros. Winners in all 14 weight categories will receive cash prizes of 6,000 euros, winners of a silver medal – 4,000 euros and a bronze medal – 2,000 euros.
Athletes will also receive points for their places in the Olympic and world rankings. Thus, the winners of the tournament will receive 1800 points, the second place winners will receive 1260 points, and the third place athletes will receive 900 points.
Source : Радио Озоди