For a week, the world’s best judokas are in Abu Dhabi for the World Judo Championships, an event that also serves as a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Over 500 athletes from more than 100 countries are seeking glory in the various male categories (-60, -66, -73, -81, -90, -100, and +100) and female categories (-48, -52, -57, -63, -70, -78, and +78). For some athletes, this brings them even closer to the big event this summer.
Some results have already been announced. Judoka Baasankhuu Bavuudorj won in the -48kg category, Italian Odette Giuffrida is the champion in -52kg, Korean Mimi Huh took gold in -57kg, Dutch Joanne Van Lieshout became the champion in -63kg, Margaux Pinot won gold in -70kg, Anna-Maria Wagner was the champion in -78kg, and Wakaba Tomita won in the +78kg category.
Tomita Wakaba secures the pin to take the heavyweight title!🥇🇯🇵
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— Judo (@Judo) May 23, 2024
In the men’s -60kg category, Giorgi Sardalashvili was the champion, Japanese Ryoma Tanaka won in -66kg, Hidayat Heydarov was the champion in -73kg, Tato Grigalashvili took gold in -81kg, Goki Tajima was the champion in -90kg, Zelym Kotsoiev won in -100kg, and Minjong Kim was the champion in the +100kg category. The results for the mixed team categories are yet to be announced.
Marius Vizer, president of the International Judo Federation, expressed that together with the UAE Judo Federation, they promote peace and the values of Judo. “We express our deepest gratitude to the local leaders for orchestrating this World Championship in a country of peace, technology, diversity, and friendship,” Vizer concluded.
