First silver joy for Spain at the World Cup held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Elche’s Hugo Arillo (-54 kilos) earned world runner-up honors on Friday, joining Adrián Vicente (-58 kilos), Adriana Cerezo (-49 kilos), and Joan Jorquera (-63 kilos) in a strong Spanish showing.
Arillo, 21 years old and currently ranked 30th in the world, proved he can compete at the highest level with a standout tournament. He faced Tae-joon Park of Korea, who battled through a knee issue but still delivered an impressive final performance. Arillo managed to edge past Park in the title bout after a decisive 2-0 victory, sealing a hard earned silver medal.
As the European Under-21 runner-up, Arillo began with a confident display in the opening round against Ethiopia’s Solomon Demse, dominating from start to finish and winning 2-0. The Elche native then faced Iranian contender Mehdi Hajimousaei in a tight second round, earning a 2-1 win that kept him in Spanish hands. In the round of 16, Arillo faced Brazil’s Paulo Melo, surviving a close clash to win 2-1 after a tense exchange and a late comeback, though the fight included a video confirmation request from Melo that did not alter the scoreboard.
Hugo Arillo rises again and claims silver in European sub-21 taekwondo
Caesar Hernandez
Arillo secured his spot in the final by defeating Italian Teodoro del Vecchio 2-0 in the quarter-finals, showing a controlled performance with fewer surprises than expected. In the semi-finals Arillo faced Türk Görkem Polak, who had a history of strong rounds. Arillo delivered a steadier, more confident showing and advanced to the world final with a 2-0 scoreline that underscored his rising form.
The Spanish campaign continued with Sara Cortegoso taking part in the second round. Cortegoso opened with a smooth 2-0 win over Palestinian Maiar Qabana, then encountered Kazakh talent Rita Bakisheva, a world bronze medalist, in a tougher match. Cortegoso battled through both rounds but ultimately fell short as Bakisheva claimed victory, leaving Cortegoso to regroup for future events.
Hugo Arillo joins Alicante’s FURYO Club
Caesar Hernandez
This weekend promises one of the most anticipated moments for the Spanish delegation. World champion Dani Quesada (-74 kg) will be on the mat with clear hopes to reaffirm his title, while European champion Jone Magdaleno (-62 kg) will seek his first World Cup podium and aim to add another medal to Spain’s tally.