The quarter-finals are over, and we have the guaranteed medalists confirmed, with the semi-finals set to take place tomorrow.
Spartak Mikayelyan [Armenia] made history as he secured Armenia’s first-ever spot on the podium at an IMMAF Junior & Senior World Championships. Mikayelyan burst onto the IMMAF scene by defeating Gimbat Magomedov [Bahrain] in his maiden appearance. He followed up the impressive performance with a triangle choke victory over Artur Abubakarov [Norway] today, making him a real contender for gold.
Ukraine enjoyed a positive day which sees the team enter the semi-finals with seven athletes having the opportunity to make the finals. Two-time youth world champion and 2022 European champion Anastasiia Holink made a statement in her opening bout of the tournament, submitting Anastasia Rajkovic [Serbia] with an armbar.
The light heavyweight division is beginning to heat up after an exciting day of action where Roan Crocker [Wales], Alik Domnich [Kazakhstan], Roman Kiziuk [Ukraine] and Dzevad Baltic [Serbia] all locked in a spot on the podium. Crocker is the sole representative for Wales at the tournament and is competing in a new weight division for a third time in IMMAF.
Brahrain’s dominance continued today, with reigning champions Rasul Magomedov, Ramazan Gitinov, Kurban Idrisov, and Aieza Ramos progressing. Bantamweight entry Murad Ibragimov put the division on notice with the best finish of the day against Carlos Polito Guevara [Mexico]
The atomweight division got underway today as Magdalena Czaban [Poland] returned to the division with a win. Victoria Anthony [United States] made her IMMAF debut by putting on a dominant performance against Vridhi Kumari to line up a highly anticipated semi-final with Czaban.
Nora Ochoa [Mexico] and Caitlyn Hadfield [England] are both on the opposite side of the bracket and picked up some big wins over each of their opponents to line up a shot at a gold medal.
Tomorrow’s semi-finals will see some of the world’s best athletes go head to head as we enter the final three days of competition.
Report by Caoilte de Barra in Belgrade