2026 Asian Judo Championships Conclude in Ordos with Mixed Team Event Decider

The 2026 Asian Judo Championships wrapped up on April 19 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, after four days of competition that saw athletes from 21 nations and regions battle for continental honors. Hosted at the Ordos Sports Development Center Gymnasium, the championship featured individual and mixed team events, continuing Asia’s premier judo showcase first held in 1966.

Competition began April 16 with opening rounds in the men’s 60kg, 66kg and women’s 48kg, 52kg weight classes. Over the subsequent days, all individual divisions were contested before the mixed team event concluded the tournament on the final day. Throughout the championships, 288 athletes, coaches and support staff were joined by 77 officials in what organizers described as a milestone year for Asian judo, coinciding with the Asian Games cycle.

On the opening day of competition, Mongolia, Bahrain and Tajikistan each claimed gold medals in the initial individual finals, whereas Japan secured its first gold of the championships in the women’s 57kg category later that afternoon. Chinese athletes earned three bronze medals on day one, including a podium finish by reigning Asian champion Zhou Yan in the women’s 48kg division.

Japan emerged as the dominant force in individual competition, topping the medal table with eight gold medals across multiple weight classes. Notable performances included Uta Abe’s victory in the women’s 52kg class and sibling rival Hifumi Abe claiming gold in the men’s 66kg division. South Korea followed with five golds, highlighted by An Changrim’s win in the men’s 73kg category and Kim Ji-su’s triumph in the women’s 63kg event.

Mongolia captured four gold medals, including wins by Tseddendorj Otgonbaatar in the men’s 81kg class and Lutkhagva Boldbaatar in the men’s 90kg division. Uzbekistan secured three golds, with Diyorbek Urozboev taking top honors in the men’s 100kg category and Iriskhon Kurbanbaeva winning the women’s 78kg event. South Korea’s Lee Hye-kyung added to her nation’s tally with gold in the women’s 70kg class, while Japan’s Aaron Wolf claimed victory in the men’s over 100kg division.

On the final day, the mixed team event determined the continental team champion. Japan defeated South Korea in the final to claim the mixed team gold medal, cementing their overall dominance at the championships. The bronze medals were shared by Mongolia and Uzbekistan after both teams lost in the semifinals.

The championships served as a critical preparation event for many athletes ahead of the Asian Games later in 2026, with several medalists using the Ordos competition to refine techniques and assess international readiness. Judo’s governing bodies noted the event’s role in promoting athlete exchange and technical development across the continent.

As the Asian Judo Union’s flagship tournament, the 2026 edition reinforced Ordos’s capability to host major international sports events, leveraging its modern facilities and organizational experience. The competition concluded with formal closing ceremonies on April 19, setting the stage for the next edition of the Asian Championships in the following cycle.

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