Assunta Scutto secured the silver medal in the -48 kg category at the 2026 World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, marking her fifth consecutive world championship podium finish. Competing at the National Gymnastics Arena on October 4, 2026, the Italian judoka navigated a difficult draw before falling to Japan’s Wakana Koga in the final. Outlets including Sportface reported that this achievement establishes an all-time record for any Italian judoka across the history of the discipline.
Baku Draw Presents Immediate Hurdles for Scutto
Entering the tournament as the defending world champion, Scutto faced an demanding path through the opening rounds. The 24-year-old napoletana opened her campaign by confronting the world’s top-ranked judoka, China’s Xinran Hui. Scutto advanced past Hui via yuko. Subsequent rounds saw the Italian athlete defeat Turkey’s Merve Azak and Brazil’s Clarice Ribeiro before overcoming Russia’s Marina Vorobeva in the semifinals with an ippon to reach the gold-medal match.
Koga Halts Title Defense in Final Combat
The gold medal match pitted Scutto against Japan’s Wakana Koga in what reports characterized as a tightly contested battle. Koga successfully countered the reigning champion’s attacks to claim the -48 kg world title. The podium was rounded out by France’s Shirine Boukli and Russia’s Sabina Giliazova, who both secured bronze medals.
Physical Setbacks Precede Historic Podium Finish
Scutto’s silver medal arrives after a challenging competitive year complicated by injuries. According to statements reported by Sportface, the Fiamme Gialle athlete reached Baku without full preparation and missed training sessions during the week with her coach, Antonio Ciano. Questo argento vale quanto un oro
— this silver is worth as much as a gold — Scutto stated after leaving the tatami, noting that she competed without being seeded and without full physical certainty. She added that she intends to study the Japanese style to prepare counter-strategies for future competitions.
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