Golden Score Patience Carries Yoshito Hojo to -81 kg Gold

Yoshito Hojo claimed -81 kg gold in Budapest after a demanding Golden Score final against Serbia’s Mihajlo Simin. The Japanese judoka stayed composed under pressure and secured the title when Simin received a third penalty.

Hojo arrived with a strong World Judo Tour record, including gold at the 2024 Dushanbe Grand Slam and the 2025 Qingdao Grand Prix. He had also taken bronze at the 2025 Tokyo Grand Slam and finished fifth at the 2026 Paris Grand Slam.

Across from him stood one of Europe’s most in-form -81 kg athletes. Simin, 21, won his first Grand Prix title in Lima in 2025 and earned junior world bronze in the same period. In 2026, the Serbian added European Championships bronze as well as bronze medals at the Tbilisi and Ulaanbaatar Grand Slams.

The final was intense throughout. Simin worked to create an opening, but Hojo controlled the exchanges and repeatedly put his opponent under pressure. Neither athlete could settle the contest in regular time, sending the final into Golden Score.

Hojo’s patient approach proved decisive. He contained Simin’s attacks, continued to press forward and drew another error from the Serbian. Simin’s third penalty ended the contest and gave Hojo the gold medal.

Hojo’s control and patience made the difference when the final entered Golden Score.

After the final, Hojo said he was especially pleased to win following a period away from international competition. He credited his determination to keep attacking and also thanked the young spectators who supported him during the day.

The bronze medals went to Murodjon Yuldoshev of Uzbekistan and Vusal Galandarzade of Azerbaijan. Yuldoshev defeated Serbia’s Vasilije Grujicic with two Yuko scores, first through O-uchi-gari and then with Ko-uchi-gari. Galandarzade took the other bronze against Slovenia’s Nace Herkovic after scoring Waza-ari with Seoi-otoshi.

Simin finished with silver, while Grujicic and Herkovic placed fifth. Petru Pelivan of Moldova and Abubakr Boqiev of Tajikistan completed the -81 kg top seven.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation