The 2026 Judo World Championships opened in Baku with two finals that delivered drama and local celebration. Japan's Wakana Koga and Azerbaijan's Ahmad Yusifov both claimed their first world titles, setting the tone for a week of high-stakes competition in the Azerbaijani capital.
Koga breaks through at -48kg
In the women's -48kg category, Italy's Assunta Scutto reached her third consecutive world final, having won gold in 2024 and silver in 2025. She faced Japan's Koga, who had previously earned bronze and silver at world level but had yet to stand on the top step of the podium.
Koga entered the final with visible momentum, having produced sharp, controlled judo throughout the morning. The contest itself was tense, with both athletes defending carefully and few clear openings. The decisive moment came on the ground, where Koga seized an opportunity and converted it with composure, bringing the match to a sudden and emphatic end.
The victory marked a breakthrough for the 24-year-old from Kanazawa, who had often been overshadowed by her more decorated compatriots. Her calm under pressure in the final suggested a maturity that could define her career in the years ahead.
Scutto, for her part, leaves Baku with silver, a result that keeps her among the world's elite at the lightest women's weight. The Italian remains a formidable presence in the category, and her rivalry with Koga is likely to continue at future events.
Yusifov ignites the home crowd at -60kg
The men's -60kg final was the day's most anticipated contest, with Azerbaijan's Ahmad Yusifov competing in his first world final in front of a partisan Baku crowd. His opponent, Kazakhstan's Sherzod Davlatov, was also making his debut at this stage, having looked composed and dangerous throughout the preliminary rounds.
Yusifov, 22, had grown up watching the sport's greats compete in Baku and had long dreamed of winning a world title on home soil. The pressure was immense, and it showed early as Davlatov took the lead on the scoreboard. But the Azerbaijani responded with remarkable poise, finding an opening and turning the contest in his favour.
The arena erupted as Yusifov completed the comeback, a moment that will be remembered as one of the highlights of these championships. The victory was particularly sweet for the local favourite, who had never before reached a world final.
Davlatov, meanwhile, can take pride in a strong performance that announced him as a rising force in the -60kg division. His silver medal is Kazakhstan's first at these championships.
Azerbaijan's judo pedigree
Baku has become a regular host for major judo events, and the city's passion for the sport was on full display. The National Gymnastics Arena, with its distinctive architecture, provided a fitting stage for the opening day's drama.
Azerbaijan has invested heavily in judo, and the results are evident. Yusifov's gold adds to a growing list of achievements for the country's judokas, who have consistently performed well at European and world level.
The championships continue through the week, with more weight categories set to produce their own stories. For now, the focus remains on the two champions who set the tone on day one.
As the competition progresses, European judo fans will be watching closely, particularly given the continent's strong tradition in the sport. The performances in Baku will also feed into the broader narrative of European sport, which has seen a series of notable achievements in recent months, from EU cities competing for green honours to the ongoing challenges in the Black Sea region that have drawn international attention.
For now, the judo world turns its attention to the next sessions, where new champions will emerge and the legacy of Baku 2026 will continue to be written.
