Judoka Ayumi Leiva Sánchez has secured a gold medal at the Budapest Grand Slam and a bronze medal at the World Championships in Baku over a 25-day span, as reported. The 24-year-old athlete, who competes for the Proyecto FER and resides in Valencia, achieved these milestones in the under-52 kg category to strengthen her standing ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
“Estaba convencida de que los grandes resultados acabarían llegando. Tenía, y tengo, plena confianza en mis virtudes, en mis características, en mi mentalidad, y, por supuesto, en mis entrenadores,” Leiva stated in remarks published by Proyecto FER. “Con constancia, con trabajo, con fe en lo que haces, acaban llegando los resultados.”
Gold in Budapest and Bronze in Baku
Leiva opened her recent run of success on September 11 by capturing the gold medal at the Budapest Grand Slam, marking her first victory at that tournament level. Less than a month later, on October 5, she earned a bronze medal at the World Championships in Baku, securing her first career podium finish at a world event.
“El oro de Budapest significaba mi primera victoria en un Grand Slam y me generó mucha emoción, pero, si he de elegir, me quedo con el bronce firmado en Bakú,” Leiva explained to Proyecto FER. “Como dije días antes, un Mundial es especial. Es cierto que las participantes somos las mismas que en un Grand Slam, pero un Campeonato del Mundo tiene un plus que lo hace diferente al resto de competiciones.”
Path Through the Baku World Championship Bracket
Competing in the under-52 kg weight class in Baku, Leiva advanced through five demanding bouts. She won her first three matches, defeating Nungshithoi Chanu Leishangthem of India in the round of 32 and Marie Celine Baba Matia of Cameroon in the round of 16.
In the quarter-finals, Leiva overcame Hungary’s Roza Gyertyas, an opponent who had eliminated her in the round of 32 at the previous year’s World Championships. Leiva’s run toward the title then met the eventual gold medalist, Japan’s Uta Abe, who defeated her in the semi-finals. Rebounding in the bronze-medal contest, Leiva defeated Italy’s Odette Giuffrida to secure the third-place finish.
Upcoming Competitions and the Road to 2028
Following her success in Hungary and Azerbaijan, Leiva must determine whether she will compete at the Spanish Championship scheduled for November 28 in Lugo. Her next confirmed appearance is at the World Masters, a select tournament running from December 18 to 20 in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.
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