Ukrainian judokas will not take part in this month's world championships in Qatar following the International Judo Federation's decision to readmit Russians and Belarusians as neutrals, the Ukrainian Judo Federation said on Monday. The International Olympic Committee last month recommended that athletes from the two countries be allowed to return to international competition as neutrals.…
(Reuters) - Ukrainian judokas will not take part in this month's world championships in Qatar following the International Judo Federation's (IJF) deci.
The home team is allowed to field four contestants per category on the World Judo Tour and Russia took full advantage on day two in Kazan.
Two golds for Russia
Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov took Ayub Khazhaliev by surprise for ippon in the all Russian -73kg final.
Before the tournament we prepared together, we lived together and then we ended up in the final together. We agreed that it didn’t matter who won because in the end, we are friends. Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov
Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, awarded the medals. Judo is family,” said Makhmadbekov afterwards. “We train all year long together and we are brothers to each other. In the final I faced Ayub Khazhaliev, my teammate. Before the tournament we prepared together, we lived together and then we ended up in the final together. We agreed that it didn’t matter who won because in the end, we are friends.