At the opening day of the 2026 World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, Japanese judoka Koga Wakana and local favorite Ahmad Yusifov claimed the gold medals in their respective weight classes amid intense competition on the tatami.
The tournament opened in Baku, bringing together international competitors aiming for the coveted red backpatches. Reporting from the venue, Euronews detailed an action-packed start to the global competition, highlighted by standout performances in the lightweight categories.
Koga Wakana Secures the Under-48 Kilogram Gold
In the women’s under-48 kg division, Italy’s Assunta Scutto reached the final for the third time following a strong morning session. Standing across from her was Japan’s Koga Wakana, who entered the final match carrying previous World Championships medals—specifically one bronze and one silver—but missing the top spot on the podium.
The final bout proved closely contested as neither athlete gave up much space on the mat. Koga ultimately seized an opening on the ground, maintaining her composure under pressure to secure a decisive victory.
The formidable esprit des supporters, toute l’énergie qui venait d’eux, m’a portée et j’ai réussi à faire encore mieux grâce à leur soutien dans le stade,
Koga remarked after capturing the world title, acknowledging the energy she drew from the arena atmosphere.
Following the match, Azer Aliyev, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, presented the medals to the division’s top competitors.
Ahmad Yusifov Claims Victory in the Under-60 Kilogram Division
In the men’s under-60 kg category, local competitor Ahmad Yusifov advanced to his first world final in front of a passionate home crowd in Baku, securing his opportunity to fight for a red backpatch. His opponent in the final was Kazakhstan’s Sherzod Davlatov, who also reached his first world championship final after a composed and dangerous run through the tournament rounds.
Yusifov fought back after falling behind on the scoreboard, overcoming the deficit to defeat Davlatov and spark massive celebrations inside the venue.
J’ai toujours de bonnes pensées en tête. Je n’aurais pas pu perdre un combat devant ce public et maintenant, je me sens très bien,
Yusifov stated following his dramatic gold-medal performance.
Timur Kemell, a member of the Executive Committee of the International Judo Federation, presided over the medal ceremony for the under-60 kg category.
Tournament Schedule and Future Bouts
With the opening day concluded in Azerbaijan’s capital, competition at the 2026 World Judo Championships continues tomorrow as athletes return to the venue known locally as the land of fire.
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