Judo Bundesliga: Witten Dominates Holten Oberhausen in Season Opener

The Sport-Union Annen from Witten proved too strong for the Judo-Team Holten Oberhausen, securing an 11-3 victory in their Bundesliga season opener on Monday, March 16, 2026. Despite a well-prepared squad, Holten Oberhausen faced a formidable opponent in Witten.

Witten’s Strength and Holten’s Hopeful Start

Head coach Ralf Najdwoski anticipated a challenging match, and Witten delivered. The well-staffed Holten team, featuring brothers Jason and Janson Wong, entered the competition hoping to secure points. However, Witten showcased their strength, acting with concentration and capitalizing on their opportunities.

Key Moments and Controversial Calls

The match saw several key moments and a couple of unusual interruptions. After early losses in the -81kg and +100kg weight classes, Jason Wong (-66kg) stepped onto the mat against Falk Hobein. The fight was closely contested, but Hobein ultimately won with a Waza-ari after Tai-otoshi.

A brief pause followed a peculiar incident where Jason Wong had already left the safety area of ​​the mat without his judo jacket towards the changing room instead of the hall and was called back by the referee to put on his jacket and belt again and greet him. This caused a momentary disruption.

The following three matches in the -100kg, -90kg, and -73kg weight classes also went to Witten. Janson Wong (-60 kg) managed to secure the only point of the first round for Holten with a strong Ippon after Ko‑uchi‑gari against Philip Utzig. At the break, Witten led 6-1.

Second Round Struggles and Etiquette Concerns

The second round saw little change in momentum. Another unusual situation arose when Janson Wong took off his jacket and belt on the mat after making eye contact with the referee, but received a punishment because there was no formal request.

Cevin Börgel managed an ippon victory in the fourth fight of the second half of the season against Felix Packlin, bringing the score to 9-2. Sue Christian Lüdtke (-90kg) and Kostas Romas (-73kg) subsequently lost their matches. The final point for the final score of 11:3 was set by Jason Wong, who prevailed against Utzig with a remarkable Uchi-mata.

Looking Ahead

Despite the two rule-compliant etiquette situations that caused irritation at the edge of the mat, the result remains disappointing from Holten’s point of view. The Judo-Team Holten Oberhausen will return to action on Saturday, March 28th, at 2 p.m. With their first home match of the season in the Günther-Stolz sports hall at the Freiherr-vom-Stein-Gymnasium in Sterkrade.

FAQ

• What was the final score of the match? The final score was Witten 11 – Holten Oberhausen 3.
• Who were the key players for Holten Oberhausen? Jason and Janson Wong were highlighted as key players for Holten Oberhausen.
• Where will Holten Oberhausen’s next match be held? Holten Oberhausen’s next match will be at the Günther-Stolz sports hall in Sterkrade.

Did you know? Judo emphasizes not only physical prowess but also mental discipline and respect for opponents.

Stay tuned to 247sports.news for continued coverage of the Judo Bundesliga season.