Mati Takes Silver in Youth Olympic Judo Final
Canadian judoka Anes Mati lost the men's under-66-kilogram gold after being disqualified in golden score.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Olympics
Anes Mati won silver in the men's under-66-kilogram judo division at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. The final against Ukraine's Khazar Heydarov went to golden score, where Mati received a third shido and was disqualified, awarding Heydarov the gold.
Why it matters
The result gave Canada its first medal of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, a notable early marker for a delegation of 28 athletes. The outcome turned on a penalty rather than on the match's scoring, underscoring how tightly contested the division was.
The final was scoreless through regulation time before entering golden score, where Mati's third shido ended the match. Canada's 28-athlete delegation produced its first medal with this silver.
The players
Anes Mati
A Canadian judoka from Anjou, Quebec, who entered Dakar as the reigning cadet world champion in the men's 66-kilogram division.
Khazar Heydarov
A Ukrainian judoka who won the men's under-66-kilogram gold medal after Mati's disqualification.
The details
Mati, a judoka from Anjou, Quebec, faced Heydarov at the Dakar Expo Center in Diamniadio, Senegal. Argentina's Thiago Carvallo and Senegal's Matar Diop took bronze in the division.
Timeline
Mati won the men's 66-kilogram cadet world title in August 2026.
The Youth Olympic Games opened in Dakar on October 31, 2026.
The men's under-66-kilogram final was held on November 1, 2026.
Season Trajectory
Mati entered Dakar as the reigning cadet world champion in the men's 66-kilogram division, and this silver extends that recent run of elite results. The loss on a third shido shows how a single penalty can decide a final that has no scoring between the competitors.
Mati's disqualification gave Heydarov the gold without a scored point, so the result hinges entirely on how the penalty was assessed. Canadian judo fans now have a medal from the 2026 Youth Olympic Games to follow across the rest of the program.
The takeaway
A penalty in golden score decided this final, a reminder that the smallest rule infraction can outweigh an entire match. Judo followers should watch how shido calls are applied in the remaining Youth Olympic bouts.
Further reading
For more Youth Olympic coverage, browse the Olympics section.
