The 2026 World Judo Championships officially began at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sunday, October 4. The opening day of the eight-day tournament features competition in the women’s -48 kg and men’s -60 kg categories, with athletes competing for world titles and vital ranking points for the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Assunta Scutto leads Italian title defense in Baku
Italian judoka Assunta Scutto enters the Baku tournament as a primary contender in the -48 kg category. According to reports from the Italian sports outlet OA Sport, Scutto is focused on defending the world title she secured in Budapest in 2025. Her preparation for this year’s championship includes a victory at the Grand Prix of Lima held this past August. Alongside Scutto, Andrea Carlino represents Italy in the men’s -60 kg division, as the national team aims to establish an early presence on the medal table.
Italy sends 18 athletes to 2026 World Championships
The 2026 World Championships span from October 4 through October 11, featuring 14 weight categories—seven for men and seven for women—and a concluding mixed team event. Italy has arrived in Azerbaijan with a full contingent of 18 athletes, split equally between the men’s and women’s squads.
Broadcast and streaming schedule
The International Judo Federation is providing live streaming of all tournament bouts through their official platform, JudoTV. For viewers in Italy, the “Final Block” sessions, which determine the medalists each day, are scheduled for broadcast on RaiSport HD and streaming via RaiPlay Sport 1. The daily competition schedule follows a consistent format: qualifying rounds begin in the morning, followed by the final medal blocks at 16:00 local time in Baku.
Competition calendar through October 11
The championship schedule organizes weight classes across the eight-day event to ensure each division receives full coverage. The individual competition schedule is as follows:
- October 4: Women’s -48 kg and Men’s -60 kg
- October 5: Women’s -52 kg and Men’s -66 kg
- October 6: Women’s -57 kg and Men’s -73 kg
- October 7: Women’s -63 kg and Men’s -81 kg
- October 8: Women’s -70 kg and Men’s -90 kg
- October 9: Women’s -78 kg and Men’s -100 kg
- October 10: Women’s +78 kg and Men’s +100 kg
- October 11: Mixed Team Event
The tournament continues tomorrow with the preliminary rounds for the women’s -52 kg and men’s -66 kg categories, starting at 08:00 local time in Baku.
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