The 2026 Asian Judo Championships concluded in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, delivering a compelling showcase of continental dominance and emerging talent across all seven men’s weight classes. Held from April 22–25 at the Yunusobod Sports Complex, the tournament served as a critical qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and offered a clear snapshot of Asia’s evolving judo hierarchy. Japan reaffirmed its status as the region’s powerhouse, securing five gold medals, while Uzbekistan, as host nation, claimed two titles on home soil. South Korea and Mongolia each earned a single gold, highlighting the competitive depth that continues to define Asian judo on the global stage.
In the extra-lightweight (-60 kg) division, Japan’s Naohisa Takato added another continental crown to his résumé, defeating Uzbekistan’s Diyorbek Urozboev in the final via ippon with a precise seoi-nage. Takato, a two-time Olympic medalist, demonstrated his trademark grip-fighting precision and transition speed, overcoming a resilient Urozboev who had earlier stunned defending champion Yondonperenlein Baskhüü of Mongolia in the semifinals with a waza-ari hold-down. The bronze medals went to Baskhüü and South Korea’s Kim Won-jin, who rebounded from a quarterfinal loss to defeat Kazakhstan’s Gusman Kyrgyzbayev in the repechage.
The lightweight (-66 kg) category saw a historic upset as Uzbekistan’s Diyorbek Nurillaev captured his first Asian senior title, edging out Japan’s Hifumi Abe in a golden-score finale. Abe, a double Olympic champion and four-time world medalist, entered the tournament as the overwhelming favorite but struggled with Nurillaev’s aggressive kumikata and counter-attacks. After regulation time ended in a shido penalty stalemate, Nurillaev secured victory with a controversial soto-makikomi that the referees judged as ippon — a call Abe’s team immediately protested. The decision stood, sparking debate among commentators about the consistency of ne-waza evaluations in high-stakes matches. Bronze medals were awarded to Mongolia’s Tugsjargalyn Tsend-Ochir and South Korea’s An Ba-ul, who defeated Abe’s compatriot Joshiro Maruyama in the repechage bracket.
In the half-middleweight (-73 kg) division, Japan’s Soichi Hashimoto reclaimed continental supremacy with a commanding performance, defeating South Korea’s Lee Joon-hwan in the final via osoto-gari for ippon. Hashimoto, the 2021 world champion, displayed superior tactical patience, using his signature lapel grip to control distance and set up his throw. Lee, a 2023 Asian Games silver medalist, fought valiantly but struggled to close the distance against Hashimoto’s superior reach and footwork. The bronze medals went to Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Ahadov and Kazakhstan’s Zhansay Smagulov, with Ahadov securing his podium finish by defeating Mongolia’s Tsend-Ochiryn Tsogtbaatar in the repechage.
The middleweight (-81 kg) category delivered one of the tournament’s most dramatic finals, as Mongolia’s Günsengiin Öölziibayar upset Japan’s Takanori Nagase in a golden-score decider. Öölziibayar, a 2023 world bronze medalist, had narrowly lost to Nagase in the 2024 Asian Championships final but turned the tables this time with a relentless offensive strategy. After four minutes of regulation yielded no score, Öölziibayar seized victory with a counter-uchi-mata as Nagase overcommitted on a seoi-nage attempt. The win marked Mongolia’s first men’s middleweight gold at the Asian Championships since 2018. Nagase, a two-time Olympic medalist, earned silver, while bronze medals went to South Korea’s Lee Sung-ho and Uzbekistan’s Sharofiddin Boltaboev, who defeated Nagase’s compatriot Sotaro Fujiwara in the repechage.
In the half-heavyweight (-90 kg) division, Japan’s Sanshiro Murao continued his ascent, defeating Uzbekistan’s Mukhammadkarim Khurramov in the final via ippon seoi-nage. Murao, the 2023 world silver medalist, displayed improved composure under pressure, using his left-hand dominance to disrupt Khurramov’s posture before finishing with a textbook throw. Khurramov, a 2022 Asian Games champion, had defeated South Korea’s Gwak Dong-han in the semifinals but could not withstand Murao’s precision in the final. Bronze medals were awarded to Gwak and Kazakhstan’s Nurlan Yerzhanov, who defeated Khurramov’s compatriot Shakhram Ahadov in the repechage.
The heavyweight (-100 kg) title went to Uzbekistan’s Alisher Yusupov, who defeated South Korea’s Cho Gu-ham in a tightly contested final decided by a single waza-ari. Yusupov, a 2024 world championships bronze medalist, used his superior grip strength and positional control to neutralize Cho’s aggressive attacks, scoring early with a kesa-gatame hold-down that proved decisive. Cho, the 2020 Olympic silver medalist and two-time Asian champion, fought valiantly but could not break through Yusupov’s defensive structure. The bronze medals went to Japan’s Aaron Wolf and Mongolia’s Battulgyn Temüülen, with Wolf defeating Cho’s compatriot Kim Min-jong in the repechage.
In the openweight (+100 kg) division, Japan’s Tatsuru Saito defended his continental title with a dominant display, defeating Uzbekistan’s Bekmurod Oltiboev in the final via ippon o-soto-gari. Saito, the 2023 world champion, overwhelmed Oltiboev with relentless pressure and superior ne-waza transitions, securing the throw midway through the match after breaking Oltiboev’s grip defense. Oltiboev, a 2022 Asian Games silver medalist, had defeated South Korea’s Kim Sung-min in the semifinals but lacked the power to counter Saito’s explosive entries. Bronze medals were awarded to Kim and Kazakhstan’s Yerzhan Shynkeyev, who defeated Oltiboev’s compatriot Alisher Yusupov in the repechage.
Beyond the medal standings, the tournament provided critical insights into the continent’s Olympic readiness. Japan’s five gold medals underscored its continued depth, particularly in the lighter weights where Takato, Abe (despite the loss), and Hashimoto remain world-class contenders. However, Uzbekistan’s two host-nation titles — in -66 kg and -100 kg — signaled a rising threat, especially as both Nurillaev and Yusupov are now firmly in the Olympic qualification mix for 2028. Mongolia’s breakthrough in -81 kg, led by Öölziibayar, further illustrates the nation’s growing investment in judo, with its athletes increasingly challenging traditional powers through technical innovation and relentless conditioning.
For South Korea, the single gold in -73 kg via Lee Joon-hwan was a modest return, but the near-misses in -60 kg, -81 kg, and +100 kg suggest the program remains competitive, though it may require to reassess its preparation for high-pressure golden-score scenarios. Kazakhstan, while medal-less in gold, secured multiple bronzes across divisions, indicating steady progress in its athlete development pipeline, particularly in the -73 kg and +100 kg categories.
The Yunusobod Sports Complex, located in Tashkent’s Yunusobod district, provided a modern, well-equipped venue that met International Judo Federation (IJF) standards. With a capacity of 4,500 spectators, the arena hosted enthusiastic crowds throughout the four-day event, particularly during Uzbekistan’s medal matches. The tournament was conducted under the revised IJF refereeing guidelines introduced in 2024, which emphasize stricter penalties for passive kumikata and increased scrutiny on ne-waza transitions — factors that influenced several close calls, most notably in the -66 kg final.
As the continental qualifier pathway for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics continues, the 2026 Asian Championships results will directly impact seeding and qualification opportunities. Athletes who medaled in Tashkent earn valuable ranking points in the IJF World Ranking List, with gold medalists receiving 1,000 points — a significant boost toward direct Olympic qualification. The next major checkpoint for continental judokas is the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, scheduled for September, where another opportunity to earn Olympic qualification points will arise.
For fans and followers of Asian judo, the 2026 Championships reaffirmed the continent’s role as a global powerhouse while highlighting the shifting dynamics within it. Japan’s dominance remains intact, but the rise of Uzbekistan and Mongolia signals a more competitive future — one where no nation can assume supremacy without adaptation and innovation. As the road to Los Angeles 2028 accelerates, the lessons from Tashkent will shape training camps, tactical adjustments, and athlete preparation across the continent for the next two years.
Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the Olympic qualification journey, including upcoming Grand Slam events, continental championships, and athlete profiles as the countdown to Los Angeles 2028 begins.
Share your thoughts on the 2026 Asian Judo Championships in the comments below — which performance stood out to you, and how do you see the Olympic qualification race unfolding?
