Cuba finished its run at the 47th World Judo Championships in Baku with a 4-0 defeat against Turkey in the mixed team tournament, concluding the event with zero medals and only two wins across 13 total individual and team matches, according to the outlet Cubadebate.
Third World Championships Without a Podium Finish
The scoreless showing in Azerbaijan marks the third straight global championship where the island failed to secure a medal, following similar outcomes at Doha 2023 and Budapest 2025. According to competition records cited by Cubadebate, this represents the worst championship slump for the Cuban judo program since the period following the 1987 World Championships in Essen, Germany.
Throughout the individual and team brackets in Baku, Cuban competitors struggled to gain traction against international fields. Five athletes suffered opening-round eliminations: Jonathan Charón in the 60 kg division, Orlando Polanco at 66 kg, Lian Benavides in the 57 kg category, Maylín del Toro at 63 kg, and Lianet Cardona in the 78 kg class. In the women’s over-78 kg division, Dayanara Curbelo advanced past her initial opponent before exiting in the round of 32 against France’s Romane Ficko.
Ivan Felipe Silva Carries the Program’s Sole Victories
Veteran competitor Iván Felipe Silva provided the team’s only match victories during the individual tournament. Competing in the 100 kg weight class, Silva won two bouts before losing in the round of 16 to Japan’s Dota Arai, who went on to finish as the division’s runner-up.
Silva previously claimed a world silver medal in Baku eight years prior. His ninth-place finish at this year’s tournament earned him 320 points toward the international ranking lists, maintaining his pursuit of qualification benchmarks for the upcoming Olympic cycle.
Logistical Hurdles and Roster Depletion Compound Baku Struggles
Journalist Joel García outlined multiple structural challenges that impacted the delegation’s performance in Baku. In an analysis published by Cubadebate, García cited a drop in international competition over the preceding 24 months, technical deficiencies within the roster, and a compressed travel schedule that saw the team arrive at the competition venue with barely 24 hours before stepping onto the tatami.
García also pointed to domestic constraints during the buildup to the championships, noting that training sessions took place amid recurring electrical blackouts, food shortages, and transport difficulties. The national team also competed without Andy Granda in the over-100 kg division. Granda, widely viewed as the delegation’s strongest medal contender, stayed home to recover from an injury. According to the same outlet, the Cuban federation’s trip to the tournament was made possible entirely through financial assistance provided by the International Judo Federation.
Exodus of Athletes and International Standings
While the Cuban national delegation left Baku empty-handed, a familiar competitor secured a podium finish under a different flag. Ayumi Leiva Sánchez won a bronze medal in the 52 kg category representing Spain, following her emigration and subsequent change of sports nationality.
García acknowledged that Leiva Sánchez was developed within the Cuban training system, noting that her success highlights the ongoing impact of athlete migration. Records show that at least 12 judocas left the island between 2022 and 2024, thinning the depth and developmental pipeline of the national squad.
At the top of the Baku standings, Japan led the medal table with eight gold medals, two silver, and three bronze. Georgia finished second in the overall count, while host nation Azerbaijan secured seven medals, marking its highest total in championship history. Competitors representing the Americas failed to secure any podium places during the week.
Qualification Pressures Ahead of the Astana World Championships
With the Baku tournament concluded, the Cuban judo program holds four secured berths for the Pan American Games alongside the longer-term demands of the Los Ángeles Olympic qualification pathway. The International Judo Federation has scheduled the next World Championships for Astana, Kazakhstan, in June 2027.
Related reading
