ABU DABI — Canadian Shady Elnahas climbed onto the podium at the World Judo Championships for the first time in his career on Thursday, winning the silver medal in the under 100 kg category.
Elnahas, originally from Toronto, faced Azerbaijan’s Zelym Kotsoiev in the final. The 2017 World Junior champion took the lead with a waza-ari after a minute and then held off Elnahas’ replies.
Elnahas reached the final by beating Austria’s Aaron Fara, Bahrain’s Zelimkhan Bashaev and eventual bronze medal winner Dota Arai of Japan before meeting compatriot Kyle Reyes in the semi-final.
This duel went into overtime, during which Reyes received a third penalty. This allowed Elnahas to reach the final.
In the women’s category, Montrealer Ana Laura Portuondo lost from the start against Indian Tulika Maan, in the over 78 kg category.
Elnahas’ medal was Canada’s third at the Worlds, after Christa Deguchi’s silver and Jessica Klimkait’s bronze in the under 57 kg category on Monday.
2024-05-24 04:25:48
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