Odette Giuffrida claimed the bronze medal in the 52kg category at the 2026 World Judo Championships at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, adding another podium finish to her career. The Italian fought through a grueling tournament on October 5, 2026, bouncing back from a tight semifinal defeat to secure the third place finish.
The second day of competition in Azerbaijan brought intense battles across the tatami, featuring top-tier international fields in both the women’s 52kg division and the men’s 66kg division. While Japan dominated the headlines with two gold medals and a bronze, the Italian squad secured two medals over the course of the event.
Giuffrida Secures Bronze After Semifinal Setback
The journey to the podium required resilience from Giuffrida after her path to the gold medal match was halted in the semifinals. Facing Spain’s Ariane Toro Soler, the Italian judoka fought through three tightly contested minutes without a single projection scored by either athlete. The deadlock broke when Giuffrida conceded a decisive opening, allowing the Spanish competitor to capitalize with an ippon via ouchi-gari.
Relegated to the bronze medal block, Giuffrida faced Germany’s Mascha Ballhaus. The Italian asserted control early in the bout, initiating the action within the opening minute. She secured a yuko before executing a decisive immobilization that translated directly into an ippon, sealing the bronze medal.
Valerio Accogli Fights Through Golden Score Marathons
In the men’s 66kg division, Valerio Accogli delivered a performance characterized by exceptional stamina. The Italian competitor advanced through three consecutive matches via golden score periods, highlighted by a victory over number four of the ranking Ruslan Pashayev.
Japanese Judokas Win Gold Medals in Baku
Japan’s judo program reinforced its global supremacy on the second day of the Baku championships. In the women’s 52kg final, Uta Abe faced Ariane Toro Soler. The bout reached the golden score period before the Spanish competitor accumulated a third shido, resulting in the world title for the Japanese star.
Giuffrida and Other Athletes Secure Tournament Victories
Earlier in the tournament, Giuffrida opened her campaign in the round of 32 against Brazil’s Rafaela Rodrigues, advancing to the next stage during a golden score period after her opponent received a third shido resulting in disqualification. In the women’s 52kg bronze medal matches, Ayumi Leiva Sanchez secured an early ippon victory over India’s Leishangthem.
Additional podium results on the day saw Denis Vieru of Moldova claim a bronze medal in the men’s 66kg category after scoring a yuko in the final minute against Russia’s Murad Chopanov. Meanwhile, Japanese competitor Takeshi Takeoka earned a bronze medal in the same division by defeating Mongolia’s Yondonperenlei Baskhuu with a double waza-ari.
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