Varapayeu Turns a Chaotic -90 kg Day Into Career-Best Gold

Yahor Varapayeu was the standout name in the -90 kg division after a dramatic final on the World Judo Tour. The Belarusian came through an unpredictable category to claim his first grand prix gold medal, beating Guilherme Schimidt in a match that swung sharply in the closing moments.

This was not a straightforward run to the top. Varapayeu began the day as one of the outsiders, but his path changed when he defeated world champion Goki Tajima to reach the semi-finals. From there, he stopped Erzhan Kanatbekov’s impressive run and moved into the biggest final of his career with growing confidence.

On the other side of the draw, Schimidt looked like the most settled athlete in the field. The Brazilian ended the challenge of home favourite Han Qi, then controlled his semi-final against Nurbek Murtozoev. Calm, measured and efficient, he built momentum round by round and fully earned another World Judo Tour final appearance.

The gold medal contest reflected those two different journeys. Schimidt tried to dictate the pace early, applying pressure both in tachi-waza and on the ground, but without finding a score. Varapayeu stayed composed and waited for his moment.

It arrived in the final minute. The Belarusian launched a beautifully timed circular Uchi-mata and scored yuko to move in front. It looked like the decisive action of the match, but the drama was not over.

Schimidt answered quickly with a ko-uchi-gari that was first given a yuko as well, apparently sending the contest into golden score. Then came the review. Video replay showed that Schimidt had grabbed the leg during the attack, so the score was removed and replaced with a Shido. That decision confirmed Varapayeu as the winner.

One late Uchi-mata changed everything in the -90 kg final.

For Varapayeu, the result meant more than just a medal. He said the victory was especially important after a difficult return and an opening loss to a Korean athlete in Ulaanbaatar. After a short training camp in Mongolia, he regrouped and found the response he wanted at exactly the right time.

He also underlined the bigger picture, pointing to the importance of starting his Olympic qualification campaign strongly. That gave this win extra weight, not only as a personal breakthrough but as a timely result in a demanding stretch of the season.

There was also a European medal in the bronze contests. Murad Fatiyev of Azerbaijan scored yuko in the final minute against Kanatbekov to secure his second straight World Judo Tour bronze medal after also reaching the podium in Mongolia a week earlier. In the other bronze medal match, Tajima defeated Murtozoev with a fast, emphatic finish, turning him onto his back and following immediately with a hold-down for Ippon.

The final podium in the -90 kg category saw Varapayeu take gold, Schimidt finish with silver, and Fatiyev and Tajima collect bronze. In a division full of shifts and surprises, Varapayeu found the one moment that mattered most and took it.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation