Montréal, August 11th, 2025 – Arthur Karpukov won silver on Monday in the under-81 kg category at the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay. His teammates Charlie Thibault and Carla Van Zyl reached the third step of the podium.
After winning his opening bout, the 20-year-old Montreal native overcame Argentina’s Alem Yuma in the semi-finals but was caught off guard by Brazil’s Luan Almeida in the gold medal match, where he was defeated by waza-ari.
“He was in complete control during the quarter-finals and semi-finals, but his opponent came out strong and caught him a little off guard in the final. He got scored on during the first sequence, but became more and more comfortable as the fight progressed. He managed to get his opponent penalized twice, but unfortunately ran out of time,” explained his coach Antoine Bouchard.
“With this medal, he proved he’s one of the best on the continent,” added Bouchard about his protégé.
Meanwhile, Charlie Thibault won the bronze medal in the under-70 kg category when she got the better of American Shavon Gonzalez by ippon in overtime.
“Both athletes had some good scoring opportunities, but Charlie stuck to the game plan we had put in place and was able to secure the win,” added Antoine Bouchard.
The Quebec native had lost earlier to Venezuela’s Hannelys Espina in the quarter-finals.
“Her opening fight was tough to swallow. Starting with a loss always leaves a bitter taste, but Charlie was able to get back in the zone and come back strong in the repechage and bronze medal match,” stated Bouchard.
She then knocked out Mexico’s Yamileth Juarez Loya by ippon in the repechage, before climbing onto the third step of the podium.
“The bitterness of her first defeat was erased by her victory!” summed up the coach.
On Sunday, Carla Van Zyl claimed bronze in the under-57 kg category.
The 18-year-old athlete succumbed to Venezuela’s Luciana Julca in the semi-finals, before capturing the bronze medal with a triumph over Mexico’s Frida Maya.
“As the day progressed, she gained confidence and became increasingly in control. In the bronze medal match, she excelled and took home a great victory,” commented Bouchard.
Also on Sunday, but in the under-48 kg category, Addyson Tumara lost in the quarter-finals to eventual gold medalist Clarice Ribeiro of Brazil. “She was the strongest athlete in the category, which was disappointing for Addyson,” revealed Bouchard, before adding that she still put up a good fight.
Tumara had to go through the repechage, but she was unfortunately ousted by Cuba’s Yainet Coronado and finished seventh in her category.
The Junior Pan American Games will resume on Tuesday in Paraguay, as John Messe A Bessong (+100 kg) and Alisa Kofman (+78 kg) will be in action.
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Written by Sportcom for Judo Canada
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