Ahmad Yusifov Claims World Judo Championship Gold in Baku
Lokalmatador Ahmad Yusifov captured the under-60 kg world title on the opening day of the 2026 World Judo Championships in Baku, overcoming a Waza-ari deficit in the final against Kazakhstan’s Sherzod Davlatov. The current competitor carries notable international experience, including a previous stint with the Vienna-based Galaxy Tigers where he contested eight matches during the Austrian Bundesliga season. Silver marked the first world championship medal for Davlatov, while the 27-year-old Yusifov secured his gold under the cheers of his compatriots after entering the tournament seeded fifth, a triumph that could have yielded substantial financial rewards.
Yusifov Competed in the Austrian Club Circuit
Before his breakthrough performance on the International Judo Federation tour—which included a Grand Slam victory in Tashkent earlier this year—Yusifov spent time competing in the Austrian club circuit. Two years prior to his world title, the super-lightweight fighter represented the Galaxy Tigers, a club formerly affiliated with the Vienna Judo Federation. During that tenure, he secured six victories across eight bouts, though his losses included a hard-fought defeat in the Final Four against Wels competitor Daniel Leutgeb.
Richard Trautmann Coaches the Azerbaijani National Team
Behind Azerbaijan’s strong showing on home soil stands Munich-native Richard Trautmann, who serves as the head coach for the Azerbaijani national team. Yusifov’s path to the gold medal required a tactical comeback in the championship bout, where he overturned Davlatov’s early advantage. Azerbaijani leadership, including long-standing President Ilham Alijev, anticipated visits to the National Gymnastics Arena as the competition schedule unfolds. Meanwhile, the Austrian Judo Federation (ÖJV) team faces a demanding tournament ahead, opening their mixed-team campaign directly against the host nation on Sunday, with the winner advancing to face Japan.
Global Power Shift in Light Weight Divisions
Azerbaijan maintains an impressive footprint in international combat sports, boasting a population of approximately 10 million across 86,000 square kilometers—dimensions comparable to Austria. Alongside Yusifov, the host delegation features Paris 2024 Olympic champions Hidayat Heydarov (under 73 kg) and Zelym Kotsoiev (under 100 kg). Historical records show previous Olympic gold for Azerbaijan through Elnur Memmedli in Beijing 2008 and world titles from Elkhan Mammadov in 2013, underpinned by dominant cadet and junior development pipelines across the Caspian region. General sport and judo specifically hold a markedly different standing in the country compared to Austria.
Austria Faces Azerbaijan in Mixed Team Fixture
The international competition continues through the week with additional weight classes and team events taking place in Baku. The opening-round mixed team fixture pits Austria against Azerbaijan on Sunday, determining who advances to meet Japan in the next phase of the tournament.
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