Engaged in the Grand Slam of Antalya, alongside Matthias Casse in -81 kg, Malik Umayev created a huge sensation by winning the bronze medal this Saturday at the expense of the Ukrainian Manukian (23 years old / n°54). Thanks to his extraordinary explosiveness, the 21-year-old from Liège knocked his opponent down twice, once in regulation time, the other in extra time, after the Ukrainian managed to equalise. The two judokas met for the third time, the first two dating from when they were juniors. Obviously, Malik has grown quickly and well since then, entering the big leagues.
At the start of his crazy day, Malik found in the first round the Bulgarian Martirosyan (28 years old / nc), whom he had beaten in Sarajevo to finally win the silver medal there. The young Liégeois had to be patient in the face of this opponent refusing the fight by “breaking” the grips, which is why he was sanctioned by the referee twice. But Malik ends up finding the opening on a magnificent movement!
In the process, Malik Umayev was opposed to the Moroccan Moutii (25 years old / n°29), exempted from the first round following the last minute withdrawal from the Greek Demourtsidis. A real test for him against the reigning African champion and recent bronze medalist in Tunis. But our compatriot passed it successfully, overthrowing his opponent after just over two and a half minutes and then managing the end of the fight to reach the round of 16, against the Hungarian Ungvari (33 years old / n ° 13) who s t was, meanwhile, rid of the German Gramkow after… 9’40 of an absolutely intense and also undecided face-to-face.
Bronze medalist in Antalya and gold in Kazan, in 2021, Ungvari landed with his feet on the ground or rather his back on the tatami, swayed after… 33 seconds (!) by Malik Umayev who, in the process, jumped for joy turning to his coach, Cédric Taymans. The Liégeois had a bang there!
Opposed then, in the quarter-finals, to the Turkish Albayrak (28 years old / n ° 3), reigning European champion and still silver medalist in Paris (beaten by… Matthias Casse), Malik defended himself with guts, but he could not prevent his opponent from knocking him down after just over two and a half minutes. Let’s go to the repechages against another cador in the category, the Frenchman Djalo.
And Malik fought a formidable fight, taking his opponent head-on to knock him down! A victory that qualified the Visétois for the fight for bronze.
