Turkey’s Mihrac Akkus clinched the boy's under-55 kilogram gold ©IJF

Turkey’s Mihrac Akkus enhanced his growing reputation by winning boy’s under-55 kilogram gold on the opening day of the Cadet World Championships in Santiago.

Akkus had headed to the Chilean city in confident mood, having won both the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) and Cadet European Championship titles.

Continental success was soon turned into a triumph on the world stage, with Akkus progressing to the final at the Santiago National Stadium.

The 17-year-old Turkish judoka would then see off the challenge of Luka Kapanadze after just 20sec, securing his fifth consecutive ippon of the competition to show his dominance.

Russia’s Abrek Naguchev and Japan’s Hitoyoshi Sumi also earned podium finishes at the under-18 event, as they won bronze medal matches by ippon against North Korea’s An Sin Hyok and Sukhbat Byambasuren of Mongolia respectively.

Brazil’s Aldi De Oliveira triumphed in the boy’s under-50kg competition, as he won all four of his contests in impressive fashion.

The Brazilian beat Maksud Ochilov of Uzbekistan by ippon in the gold medal match, after forcing his opponent to submit.

The first bronze was earned by The Netherlands’ Daan Moes, as he overcame Turkey’s Abdulaziz Kara in a golden score period.

Csanad Feczko of Hungary denied Turkey in the second bronze medal bout, beating Ejder Toktay with an ippon.

Haruka Kawabata secured Japan's first gold medal of the Championships ©IJF
Haruka Kawabata secured Japan's first gold medal of the Championships ©IJF

Russia’s Marina Vorobeva claimed the first girl’s gold of the Championships, as she prevailed in the under-40kg competition.

Vorobeva achieved an ippon in the gold medal match against Ivana Nikolic of Montenegro.

Anastasiia Balaban earned the first bronze, with the 14-year-old Ukrainian beating Kazakhstan’s Sara Kulym via ippon.

Belgium’s Jente Verstraeten, an EYOF gold medallist, took the second bronze by overcoming Russia’s Glafira Borisova.

The Japanese team would also enjoy success on the opening day, with Haruka Kawabata having won the under-44kg title at the expense of North Korea’s Kim Jong Hung.

Brazil’s Amanda Arraes was awarded the bronze over France’s Liza Gateau, with the podium completed by Italian Carlotta Avanzato, who overcame Mariam Amkhadova of Russia.

Individual events will conclude on Saturday (August 12), before mixed team competition brings the Championships to a close the following day.

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