German Judo Team Competes at World Championships in Baku

The 2026 Judo World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, begin competition on October 4, bringing together more than 620 athletes from 93 nations. The tournament, which runs through October 11, represents one of the largest fields ever assembled on the International Judo Federation (IJF) tour, according to the German Judo Federation (Deutscher Judo-Bund).

German National Team Schedule in Baku

The German delegation will begin its campaign on the opening day, with Sarah Ischt competing in the women’s 48-kilogram division. Mascha Ballhaus is scheduled to follow on Monday in the 52-kilogram weight class. The remaining German athletes, including those in the men’s and women’s rosters, are set to arrive in Baku shortly before their respective competition days to finalize their preparations.

The German women’s squad is under the direction of national coach Claudiu Pusa and the board member for high-performance sports, Miryam Roper-Yearwood. Physiotherapist Marco Welz is also on-site to provide medical support to the team throughout the event.

Tournament Venue and Logistics

Participants are based at an official IJF hotel located on the coast of the Caspian Sea. The facility serves as the primary hub for the event, featuring a large dedicated training mat and central offices for the official accreditation of all athletes and staff. The official draw for the tournament takes place on Saturday, October 3, at 14:00 local time (12:00 CEST).

Leadership Expectations for the German Squad

Miryam Roper-Yearwood noted the collective effort required to reach this stage of the season. “The athletes and their coaches have worked toward this World Championship as a team,” Roper-Yearwood stated. She emphasized that she expects the competitors to approach the mat with both self-confidence and tactical awareness, noting that their form is a reflection of the support received from staff and families back in Germany.

German Athletes Compete Across Multiple Weight Divisions

The German team features a diverse group of athletes across multiple weight divisions:

• Women’s -48 kg: Sarah Ischt (VfL Wolfsburg)
• Women’s -52 kg: Mascha Ballhaus (Turnerbund Hamburg-Eilbeck)
• Women’s -57 kg: Seija Ballhaus (TSV München-Großhadern)
• Women’s -63 kg: Sara-Joy Bauer (TSG Backnang) and Friederike Stolze (SV Halle)
• Women’s -70 kg: Miriam Butkereit (SV Halle) and Giovanna Scoccimarro (MTV Vorsfelde)
• Women’s -78 kg: Alina Böhm (JC 71 Düsseldorf) and Anna Monta Olek (JT Hannover)
• Women’s Reserve: Dena Pohl (UJKC Potsdam)
• Men’s -90 kg: Eduard Trippel (JC Rüsselsheim)
• Men’s +100 kg: Losseni Kone (SC Alstertal-Langenhorn)
• Team Competition: Kevin Abeltshauser (-73 kg), Paul Friedrichs (-90 kg), and Mortaza Suha (+100 kg)

Mixed Team Competition Concludes Tournament on October 11

Following the opening rounds, the tournament continues through October 11, with the mixed team competition serving as the final event. Preliminary rounds for individual classes generally begin between 11:00 and 12:00 local time (09:00–10:00 CEST), with final blocks starting daily at 18:00 local time (16:00 CEST).

Individual weight class competition concludes on October 10 with the +78 kg and +100 kg categories. The final day of the championships, October 11, is dedicated entirely to the mixed team tournament, beginning at 10:00 local time (08:00 CEST).