Erdenetsogt and Hiller Earn Top-16 Results at Cadet Worlds

(Colorado Springs, CO) – Two members of Team USA earned top-16 results at the Cadet World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia on Thursday.

2023 Cadet World Championships Live Stream and Results

Seventeen-year-old Bilegt Erdenetsogt (Albany, CA / Berkeley Genco Judo Club) finished 2-1 in the 66 kg division at his Cadet World Championship debut. Erdenetsogt came up against two-time Cadet European Cup medalist Pavle Petrovic (SRB) in the round of 64 and forced the Serbian into two penalties during regulation and a third during Golden Score (sudden death overtime). Erdenetsogt’s next match against Nikita Bolzan (LTU) would go to Golden Score as well with the American winning by three penalties. With the medal rounds in his sights, Erdenetsogt fought Giorgi Dularidze (GEO), but came up short when the two-time Cadet European Cup medalist threw him for ippon (instant win) in the second minute.

Sixteen-year-old Harlee Hiller (Evanston, IL / Cohen Brothers Judo) came into this year’s Cadet Worlds as one of six returning members of the 2022 U.S. team. After a bye into the round of 32 in the 48 kg event, Hiller, a 2023 Junior Pan American Wrestling Champion, put her ground game skills to work in her first match, taking Dora Letonia (CRO) to the mat and pinning her for ippon during the first exchange. In the next round, Hiller came up against Aitana Diaz Hernandez (ESP) – a four-time Cadet European Cup medalist and three-time Junior European Cup medalist. Diaz Hernandez threw Hiller for a waza-ari (half-point) score in the second minute and held the American off for the remainder of the match to take the win. Diaz Hernandez would go on to win five matches on her way to claiming the Cadet World title.

Samantha Garcia (Torrance, CA / Harbor Judo Dojo) also competed in the 48 kg division where the 16-year-old made her Cadet World debut. Garcia drew a bye into the 32, but failed to advance after dropping her match to Gozel Ynamova (TKM) by three penalties to two in Golden Score.

Garcia’s younger sister, Allison Garcia (Torrance, CA / Harbor Judo Dojo), also fought at her first Cadet Worlds on Thursday, competing in the 52 kg division. The younger Garcia was thrown in the opening round by Laurence Gagnon (CAN) for a waza-ari (half-point) with the Canadian transitioning quickly into a pin to win the match.

Competing in the 60 kg division, first-time Cadet World Team member Alexander Prado (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) fought hometown favorite Nikola Hadzi-Veljkovic (CRO) in the round of 64. Neither athlete produced a score during regulation and the two fought more than five minutes into Golden Score before Prado was given his third non-combativity penalty.  

Kevin Do Carmo (Lehigh Acres, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) entered his first Cadet Worlds ranked No. 11 in the world at 66 kg, but the 16-year-old found himself fighting the eventual bronze medalist in the event, Inoyat Telmanov (UZB), and was choked in the opening round.

Top eight and U.S. results are as follows:

Men’s 60 kg
1. Izhak Ashpiz (ISR)
2. Mahammad Musayev (AZE)
3. Yosin Bobokalonov (TJK)
3. Simas Polikevicius (LTU)
5. Tudor Mosoi (ROU)
5. Danylo Kravchenko (UKR)
7. Vincent Nepton (CAN)
7. Nursultan Iskakov (KAZ)

Also Competed: Alexander Prado (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), 0-1

Women’s 48 kg
1. Aitana Diaz Hernandez (ESP)
2. Marharyta Miroshnichenko (UKR)
3. Elena Storione (ITA)
3. Tara Babulfath (SWE)   
5. Anudari Jamsran (MGL)
5. Zarina Jamalova (UZB)
7. Marketa Korcakova (CZE)  
7. Anja Jovanovic (SRB)

Also Competed: Harlee Hiller (Evanston, IL / Cohen Brothers Judo), 1-1
Samantha Garcia (Torrance, CA / Harbord Judo Dojo), 0-1

Men’s 66 kg
1. Szymon Szulik (POL)
2. Abil Yusubov (AZE)
3. Inoyat Telmanov (UZB)
3. Siorgi Givishvili (GEO)
5. Giorgi Dularidze (GEO)
5. Antonio Rocha (BRA)
7. Renat Croitoru (MDA)     
7. Myhammadin Loiqov (TJK)

Also Competed: Bilegt Erdenetsogt (Albany, CA / Berkeley Genco Judo Club), 2-1
Kevin Do Carmo (Lehigh Acres, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), 0-1

Women’s 52 kg
1. Khadizha Gadashova (AZE)
2. Alyssia Poulange (FRA)
3. Maya Toszegi (GER)
3. Adriana Saez Hevia (ESP)
5. Alicia Marques (FRA)
5. Rafaela Rodrigues (BRA)
7. Denitsa Georgieva (BUL)
7. Melaniia Vodianna (UKR)

Also Competed: Allison Garcia (Torrance, CA / Harbor Judo Dojo), 0-1