Belgian Judo Delegation Arrives in Baku for World Championships

The Belgian judo delegation has arrived in Baku for the World Judo Championships, launching an intense phase of qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. With the tournament offering a maximum haul of 2,000 ranking points to gold medalists—double the reward of a Grand Chelem victory—athletes across the squad face a high-stakes battle to secure vital ranking positions on the international circuit.

Baku tatamis host decisive Olympic qualification points

The global championship serves as a major inflection point for judoka hunting qualification points for Los Angeles 2028. Since the Mongolia Grand Chelem in June, competitors have chased ranking spots across major fixtures, making the Baku event a crucial testing ground. With 2,000 points on the line for tournament winners, athletes unable to deliver risk falling behind in the global hierarchy.

Three Belgian fighters open the campaign

Action begins immediately on Sunday for the Belgian team, with three athletes stepping onto the tatamis on the opening day of competition. In the women’s -48kg division, Loïs Petit makes her fourth career appearance at the world championships. The 27-year-old from Tournai enters the tournament following a disrupted season that featured a promising fifth-place finish in Mongolia, followed by a grade 2 internal ligament tear in her elbow during preparations for the Lausanne Grand Chelem.

Petit acknowledged the physical toll of elite competition while maintaining full confidence in her readiness. “I started well with my 5th place in Mongolia. I was super happy. But afterwards, during the preparation for the Lausanne Grand Chelem, I got hurt,” Petit said. “I had a grade 2 sprain of the internal ligament of the elbow. I treated myself. And now, I’m back. I still have a little pain, but everyone hurts somewhere at the high level. In any case, I will be at 100% on the big day. It would be good to make a result. Winning a medal would be good. We are going to give our maximum.”

Victoria Sibille steps up to senior world stage

Alongside Petit in the -48kg category, 21-year-old Victoria Sibille from La Bruyère makes her senior world championship debut. Described as a surprise addition to the squad, the Namur native earned her place through strong World Cup podium finishes and a seventh-place result at a Grand Chelem, lifting her into the top 100 of the world rankings.

Sibille’s path to Baku involved overcoming significant injuries, including a January 2025 wrist fracture that required two surgeries, followed by a knee injury in January 2026 that sidelined her for another four to five months before returning to action in May. “It’s a bit of a surprise for me because I didn’t expect it to go so fast after my injuries,” Sibille stated. “I don’t put any special pressure on myself. This is my first world championships. I’m really going into it with the idea of having fun and doing what I love.”

Jorre Verstraeten targets the podium in Azerbaijan

In the men’s -60kg division, 28-year-old Jorre Verstraeten embarks on his eighth world championship appearance. The Leuven-born triple European medalist faced a disrupted preparation after tearing his hamstrings in June, forcing him to miss several competitions and rebuild his fitness during a training camp in Sierra Nevada.

Reflecting on his past near-misses, including a narrow fourth-place finish in Doha in 2023, Verstraeten emphasized a measured approach to the tournament. “I tore my hamstrings in June,” Verstraeten noted. “I missed some competitions. I had to resume progressively. It was just in time to start the preparation for the worlds with a training camp in Sierra Nevada. And everything is ok. I would like to take this world medal. But I am going to advance match by match. Phase by phase.”

Extended team rounds out the delegation

The broader Belgian squad features Mina Libeer in the -57kg category and Vicky Verschaere in the -78kg division, both looking to make an impact in Baku. Meanwhile, Gabrielle Bouvier prepares for her maiden senior world championship appearance in the over-78kg class as she approaches her 22nd birthday in October.

Bouvier views the tournament as a fundamental stepping stone toward the 2028 Olympic cycle. “These are my first worlds. I’m super happy. And I’m also apprehensive because it’s a bit stressful for everyone,” Bouvier explained. “I can’t wait. I want to make the best result and really have fun, that’s the main thing. We think a lot about the Games. We are in the program for that. Making results is necessary. My goal is to do them. So, all the points taken are points for the Games.”

Questions remaining in Baku

Whether the returning athletes can overcome their injury layoffs to secure podium finishes, and how the younger debutants will manage the psychological pressure of a senior world championship opener, will become clear as competition unfolds on the tatamis.

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