France’s Kaïla Issoufi claimed the silver medal in the under-78 kg division at the World Judo Championships in Baku, finishing her tournament with a defeat in the final against the United Arab Emirates competitor Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko. Competing in her first career World Championships, the 25-year-old French judoka admitted to mixed emotions following the podium ceremony, balancing the sting of a final-match loss with the broader satisfaction of her season’s trajectory.
Balancing Frustration and Pride After the Final
“I am a competitor, I don’t like to lose. Today there is frustration, finishing a day on a defeat is always difficult,” Issoufi said after receiving her medal, smiling despite shedding a few tears. She added that with some perspective, joy and pride eventually surfaced, noting her intent to change the color of the medal at the earliest opportunity. Her coach, Kilian Le Blouch, evaluated the performance pragmatically, stating that the opponent delivered a very strong day and that earning the silver medal accurately reflected where the French athlete stood in the tournament.
Handling a Tough Draw and High Pressure in Baku
To reach the gold medal match, Issoufi won a demanding bracket that included victories over top-tier international opponents. In the semifinal, she faced Germany’s Olek Anna Monta, the world number one and reigning world silver medalist, securing victory with a yuko scored right on the final bell—a sequence she described as an action born of desperation. Earlier in the day, she defeated Japan’s Kurena Ikeda by ippon in the quarterfinal. Issoufi noted that she experienced an unusual level of nervous tension ahead of the competition, recalling a stress level similar to her cadet years before settling down during the warm-up period.
The Decision to Move Up to Under-78 Kilograms
The silver medal in Baku caps a breakthrough year that followed a major weight class adjustment. For a long period, Issoufi competed in the under-70 kg category, where she struggled to impose her style and faced recurring injuries. At the beginning of 2025, she made the decision to move up to the under-78 kg division. She subsequently won the Tashkent Grand Slam in February and captured a bronze medal at her first European Championships in April. Describing the weight class change as the best decision of her career, Issoufi explained that the transition allowed her to enjoy competition, stay healthy, and achieve results matching her training investment.
Impact on the French Delegation’s Medal Count
Issoufi’s performance delivered the third medal for the French team at the Baku championships, joining bronze medals secured earlier by Shirine Boukli in the under-48 kg category and Dayyan Boulemtafes in the under-73 kg division. The result provided a boost to a French delegation tally that had experienced a slower start than anticipated. Additional medal opportunities for the team remain dependent on upcoming bouts in the heavier weight categories and the mixed team event.
Keep reading
