Ukrainian judoka Said-Magomed Khalidov won a bronze medal in the under 73 kg weight category at the Grand Prix/Grand Slam series tournament held in Lausanne (Switzerland). This award became the first for the Ukrainian national team at this stage of the series. This was reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the press service of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine. For the 22-year-old athlete, who is the Ukrainian champion in his weight category, this is his first medal of this level in his career.
Path to the Semifinals
On the second day of competition, Khalidov put together a convincing tournament run. On his way to the semifinals, he defeated Nurmukhamed Bakirdinov of Kyrgyzstan by ippon, beat Hungarian judoka Sabo Chabu, and then knocked out an Olympic participant — American Jack Yonezu — by ippon. This string of confident victories allowed the Ukrainian to reach the semifinals of a tournament of this scale.
Semifinal and the Fight for Bronze
In the semifinals, the 22-year-old Ukrainian lost to the decorated Brazilian Daniel Carnino, which cost him a chance at gold. However, in the decisive bout for the bronze medal, Khalidov faced Hungary's Aron Gabor and landed a spectacular ippon that earned him the medal. It was this throw that became the highlight of his performance in Lausanne.
Ukrainian Team Lineup
A total of 15 athletes were included in the Ukrainian team's entry for the Lausanne tournament, indicating broad national representation at this stage of the series. Khalidov's bronze became the first podium result for the team at this competition and an important signal for the national squad.
Context and Significance of the Result
The award in Lausanne fits into a series of successful performances by Ukrainian judokas and wrestlers at international events. It was previously reported that Ukrainian juniors won two medals at the World Wrestling Championship. Thus, Khalidov's result confirms the stable level of the Ukrainian judo school in the under 73 kg weight category on the international stage.
