Member News

October 13, 2006

Rousey to Defend her Junior World Title Friday

Athens Olympian and 2004 Junior World Champion Ronda Rousey (Santa Monica, Calif. / NYAC / 63kg) will begin her quest to become the first American ever to win two Junior World titles Friday as competition continues in Santo Domingo.

Joining Rousey in Friday’s competition will be first-time Junior World athletes Hannah Martin (Burnt Hills, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center / 57kg), Jake Larsen (Santa Rosa, Calif. / Redwood Judo) and Zane Malloy (Oak Harbor, Wash. / NAS Whidbey Island Judo).

A preview of Friday’s divisions are as follows:

Women’s 57kg

Hannah Martin (Burnt Hills, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center) drew a first-round bye before her second round match against Zeyra laguna (NCA).  A third round would likely feature a match against Kaori Matsumoto (JPN), the 2005 Sofia Senior World Cup medalist. 

In the top quarter of Martin’s side of the draw, a second-round match between Automne Pavia (FRA), a bronze medalist at this year’s European U-20 Championships, and Irina Zabludina (RUS), a former 63kg player finished third at the 2005 European U-20s, but dropped down to 57kg for this event. 

The favorite on the other half of the draw looks to be Sheila Espinosa (CUB), a two-time Senior World Cup medalist.  Espinosa has landed in one of the most difficult quadrants as Gulzat Uralbayeva (KAZ), 2006 Asian Junior Champion; Julie Bayens (BEL), bronze medalist at the Belgium Ladies Open; Dora Hegedus (HUN), 2006 European U-20 bronze medalist; and Olena Sayko (UKR), fifth place finisher at this year’s Sofia Senior World Cup are all within a match or two of each other.

In the final pool, look for 2006 European U-20 Champion Michelle Diemeer (NED) to emerge into the semifinals. 

Women’s 63kg

Reigning Junior World Champion Ronda Rousey (Santa Monica, Calif. / NYAC) comes into this event looking to become the first American ever to win two Junior World titles.  Rousey will meet Lauren Baverstock (GBR) in the first round.  Athletes Rousey may face en route to the finals include Ninetta Kakonyi (HUN), a 2006 European U-20 bronze medalist, as a possible quarter-final match and potential semi-final contenders that include Aldama Onix Cortes (CUB) and Claudia Ahrens (GER) who finished seventh in the 57kg division at the 2004 Junior Worlds.

On the bottom half of the draw, the fight of the day is expected to be a second round match between Alice Schlesinger (ISR), a Junior Worlds bronze medalist at 57kg who upset Rousey at the 2005 Senior World Championships in Cairo, and Marta Labazina (RUS) who upset Schlesinger in September at the European U-20 Championships.   Rousey has never fought Labazina, but soundly defeated Schlesinger during their last match at this year’s Belgian Ladies Open and will looking for a second chance at redemption here. 

Men’s 90kg

Jake Larsen (Santa Rosa, Calif. / Redwood Judo) first-round draw is a match against Carlos Ruiz (MEX), a bronze medalist at this year’s Benito Juarez Championships on the Senior South American Tour.  A win would advance Larsen to the second round against 2006 European U-20 bronze medalist Tentore Masmanidis (GRE). Winning the first two matches will be crucial for Larsen as the quarter-finals are expected to pit the winner of the match with Masamanidis against Ali Mohammadnia (IRI), the 2006 Asian Junior Champion.

Also in Larsen’s half of the draw are a tough contingent that includes: Babur Amirhamzaev (UZB), 2006 Asian Junior bronze medalist; Akihiro Morita (JPN), 2005 Asian Junior bronze medalist; Robert Zimmermann (GER), 2006 Belgium Open bronze medalist and a two-time European U-20 medalist; and Herve Fichot (FRA), this year’s European U-20 Champion. 

In the bottom two pools, look for Lithuanian Karolis Bauza (LTU) to emerge into the finals. 

Men’s 100kg

Zane Malloy (Oak Harbor, Wash. / NAS Whidbey Island Judo) 100kg drew a first round bye before a second-round match against Alius Braciulis (LTU), a two-time medalist at this year’s European A-Level junior events.  The winner advances to the quarter-finals against one of a trio of German, Russian and Argentinian competitors.

The top pool on Malloy’s half of the draw, includes three medal round hopefuls: Genkov Ivanov (BUL), 2006 European U-20 bronze medalist; Akramjan Marazykov (KGZ), two-time Asian Junior medalist; and Norihide Yamamoto (JPN), this year’s Asian Junior Champion.

On the bottom half of the draw athletes to watch are Adam Juhasz (HUN), 2006 European U-20 silver medalist, Teofilo Diek (DOM), two-time Senior Pan American medalist and Cyrille Maret (FRA), a 2005 European bronze medalist who finished seventh at the 2004 Junior Worlds.