Rutovic Takes Silver as European Judoka Claim Two -90 kg Bronzes

Boris Rutovic earned silver in the -90 kg category in Budapest, while Mihail Latisev and Lachlan Moorhead secured bronze medals for Europe. The final day delivered a strong European medal return, even as Brazil’s Guilherme Schimidt took gold.

Latisev, ranked world number ten, was quickly in control against Astemir Abazov in the first bronze-medal contest. The Moldovan opened the scoring with a reverse Seoi-otoshi for yuko, then raised the tempo.

A counter attack brought Waza-ari before Latisev struck again moments later with Seoi-otoshi. His second score completed a rapid victory and confirmed his place on the podium.

The other bronze contest between Moorhead and Yahor Varapayeu was far tighter. Both judoka had collected two Shido, turning the closing stages into a high-pressure battle where another error could have decided everything.

Moorhead found the decisive action as the final minute approached. The British judoka drove forward with Kata-guruma and scored the point required to take bronze, sealing a hard-fought result after a contest decided by the smallest margins.

Moorhead’s Kata-guruma broke a tense contest when neither judoka could risk another penalty.

Rutovic then carried European hopes into the final against Schimidt. The Serbian judoka remained composed while his Brazilian opponent received two penalties, but the momentum shifted sharply with less than a minute remaining.

Schimidt moved underneath Rutovic and launched a precisely timed Seoi-otoshi. Initially scored Waza-ari, the action was quickly upgraded to Ippon, ending the final and giving Schimidt his third Grand Slam title, including a second in Budapest.

Rutovic’s silver, alongside the bronze medals won by Latisev and Moorhead, ensured that European judoka occupied three of the four -90 kg podium places.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union