The 2026 Baku World Judo Championships in Azerbaijan feature the men’s 81kg and women’s 63kg divisions on day four, bringing world champions and rising contenders to the mat for international competition.
Yuhei Ono Targets Gold in First World Championships Appearance
Yuhei Ono of Asahi Kasei enters the men’s 81kg division seeking his first world title after securing three consecutive All Japan Selected Weight Class Championships victories from 2023 through 2025. Ono earned gold at Grand Slam events in Ulaanbaatar in July, Tokyo in December, and Paris in February, establishing himself as Japan’s top competitor in the weight class. His repertoire includes ko-soto-gari, o-uchi-gari, uchi-mata, and seoi-nage, supplemented by a transition game from standing breaks into ne-waza groundwork.
Zelim Tsukaev and International Contenders Shape the 81kg Field
Zelim Tsukaev of Azerbaijan presents a primary challenge for the Japanese contender, having reached the Grand Slam Paris final against Ono in February. Tsukaev competes on home turf in Baku with local support from the Azerbaijani crowd. Additional top competitors in the 81kg bracket include Georgia’s Tato Grigalashvili, who captured three consecutive world titles starting in 2022, and South Korea’s Lee Joon-hwan, who has won a world bronze medal for three consecutive years.
Haruka Kajimu Chases a Second World Title
Haruka Kajimu of V-Technology defends her women’s 63kg crown after winning the Kodokan Cup in November 2024 and following with victories at Grand Slam Tokyo, Grand Slam Paris, the Asian Championships, and the Budapest World Championships in June 2025. Kajimu relies on ne-waza execution, capitalizing on opponent movement generated by seoi-nage and ko-uchi-gari attacks as well as capitalizing on breaks during throws. International challengers in the 63kg division feature 2024 world champion Joanne van Lieshout of the Netherlands, Paris 2024 bronze medalist Laura Fazliu of Kosovo, six-time world champion Clarisse Agbegnenou of France, Grand Slam Kazakhstan winner Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo of Mongolia, and Kim Ji-su of South Korea.
Tournament Runs from October 4 to October 11
Competition across the tournament runs from October 4 through October 11, with the men’s 81kg and women’s 63kg sessions scheduled for Wednesday, October 7. Live coverage is available via JUDO TV and CS broadcast Nittele Geetas, alongside official merchandise sales hosted on Ticket Pia.
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