A three-day team judo tournament “Battle for Moscow”, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the complete defeat of the German fascist invaders in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945, took place at the International Sambo Centre in Moscow’s Luzhniki. The competition was organised by the Russian Judo Federation (FDR) and the Moscow Judo Federation. The total prize fund amounted to 42 million roubles. The bouts were broadcast live by the federal sports TV channel Match TV.
The timing of the tournament, at the junction of the first and second months of autumn, was no coincidence: at the end of September 1941, the Battle for Moscow began and continued until April 1942. The strategic victory of the Soviet troops in that battle marked the collapse of Nazi Germany’s plans for a lightning capture of the Soviet capital and became one of the turning points of both the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War.
According to the organisers’ concept, the “Battle for Moscow” tournament brought together the best clubs of the Moscow region. Junior athletes under 18 competed from the following eight teams: Moscow’s “Sambo-70”, “Shabolovka”, MGFSO, UOR “Moskva”, SK “Grizzly”, “Dynamo”, and the Moscow region clubs “Fryazino” and “Akademiya Pobediteley” (Dolgoprudny).
“This time, the Russian Judo Federation decided to experiment: to expand the usual boundaries of competitions, to make them more accessible to spectators, more interesting, and more spectacular,” said FDR President Sergey Soloveychik. “This gave not only valuable experience to the participants but also a new impetus for the development of youth judo. Today’s competition is not just a colourful and large-scale event. It is a new philosophy and a format that already proves its viability. We hope to maintain the support of our partners so that these tournaments will become an important part of the youth calendar and, most importantly, a starting point for future world and Olympic champions – the very boys who are now fighting on the tatami.”
Indeed, many familiar names could be found among the participants of the “Battle for Moscow”. For example, world cadet champion Alexey Toptygin, youth European medallist Apti Utsiev, and continental Cup medallists Ramazan Khidirov, Atkhan Bichoev, and Artur Sarkisyan.
Outside the tatami, fans crowded around Olympic bronze medallist of Tokyo 2020 in the over-100 kg category, 2020 European champion, and two-time world championship medallist Tamerlan Bashaev, who acted as a commentator, as well as 2021 world champion in the under-60 kg category Iago Abuladze, who seconded the trainees of his native sports school from Fryazino, a science town near Moscow.
“Our national judo federation is always seeking new approaches to holding competitions, experimenting, moving towards something more modern and engaging,” said Iago Abuladze. “It is also worth highlighting the patriotic orientation of the tournaments: we love our country, represent Russia on international arenas, and defend its honour. And it is wonderful that this feeling is nurtured from youth.”
Team competitions are always charged with emotion and tension. The “Battle for Moscow” fully lived up to this unwritten rule. For three days, the judokas fought fiercely for the title of the best. Ultimately, “Akademiya Pobediteley” from Dolgoprudny, “Fryazino”, UOR “Moskva”, and “Dynamo” reached the final stage.
“The tournament was held at the highest level, and the bouts were breathtaking,” said Valentin Golovanov, managing shareholder of FONBET, the title sponsor of Russian judo competitions. “We are happy and proud to have become the general partner of such a large-scale event. Our company has long cooperated with the Russian Judo Federation: together we hold the Continental League, the Russia Judo Tour, and now we have added the Battle for Moscow to our collection. We are confident that many more bright projects await us ahead.”
At the summit of the patriotic tournament’s podium stood the athletes from Dolgoprudny, who defeated their Fryazino rivals with a score of 13:7. The UOR “Moskva” judokas claimed bronze.
The tournament was attended by honorary guest Alexey Yagudin – Olympic champion of Salt Lake City 2002 in men’s singles figure skating, four-time world champion, and three-time European champion. “Many have seen the humorous video ‘I had a tactic, and I stuck to it,’” recalled the legendary skater. “Well, in judo – this is no joke. Here, sport is not only about physics, but also about strategy and a cool head. Lose concentration for just a moment, and victory slips away. Here, you can make your opponent believe you are weak, while at that very moment you are preparing a winning throw. That is the beauty of judo. It is precisely this remarkable martial art that impressed me so deeply.”
Results
Final stage
Semi-finals. “Akademiya Pobediteley” (Dolgoprudny) – “Dynamo” (Moscow) – 13:6, “Fryazino” (Moscow Region) – UOR “Moskva” – 13:12.
For third place. UOR “Moskva” – “Dynamo” (Moscow) – 13:4.
Final. “Akademiya Pobediteley” – “Fryazino” – 13:7.
Champion team line-up – “Akademiya Pobediteley”: Nazurdin Kuchakov (up to 50 kg), Artur Sarkisyan (up to 55 kg), Ilya Simunin (up to 60 kg), Rabadan Ismailov (up to 66 kg), Atkhan Bichoev (up to 73 kg), Ramazan Khidirov (up to 81 kg), Atmir Mamiev (up to 90 kg), Matvey Yerin (over 90 kg).
Source: rg.ru
