Oumaima Bdioui stands as the sole Tunisian competitor at the senior World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, running from Oct. 4 to Oct. 10. The Tunisian judo delegation narrowed to a single entry after injuries and unique circumstances sidelined three other athletes who were initially scheduled to compete.
Delegation Reductions and Forfeits in Baku
Bechir Khiari, technical director of the Tunisian Judo Federation, confirmed the roster changes to state media. Tunisia originally planned to send a four-athlete team to the world tournament in Baku. Injuries forced Arij Akremi in the under-78 kg division and Souar Dhaouadi in the over-78 kg division to withdraw from the competition. Meanwhile, unspecified particular circumstances prevented Koussay Ben Ghars from competing in the under-100 kg category.
With those three withdrawals, Bdioui remains the country’s only participant, carrying the federation’s competitive hopes in the under-48 kg weight class. A total of 627 athletes across men’s and women’s events representing 93 countries have gathered for the week-long global championship.
Bdioui Trains in Tunisia and Germany for Baku
To prepare for the global stage, Bdioui underwent a rigorous training regimen. Her preparation featured alternating training camps in Tunisia and Germany supervised by national coach Anis Lounifi. The Tunisian Judo Federation expressed strong confidence in its lone representative, building on her recent performance at the Mediterranean Games « Tarente 2026 », where she secured a silver medal.
Khiari noted that Bdioui’s path toward the podium in Baku relies heavily on multiple variables, specifically her physical and mental condition, alongside the official tournament draw conducted the eve before competition. Bdioui is scheduled to step onto the tatami for her opening bout on Sunday.
Bdioui Competes in the Under-48 Kg Bracket in Baku
Competition in Baku spans seven days from Oct. 4 through Oct. 10, bringing together hundreds of international judoka for world titles. Bdioui enters the under-48 kg bracket aiming to translate her Mediterranean success into a global medal performance for Tunisia against a field featuring competitors from 93 national federations.
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