Japan competed in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam with a full women’s team and secured two gold and two bronze medals, finishing second in the standings behind the Russian Federation, which entered the event with eight male and three female athletes.

For Japan, Megu Danno claimed gold in the –63 kg category, while Miki Mukunoki dominated the +78 kg category. Yua Mori and Mizuki Sugimura also contributed to Japan’s success by winning bronze medals.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam marked the first official international judo competition since October 2023 in which Russian athletes competed under their national flag. With signs of a possible ceasefire emerging between Russia and Ukraine, the International Judo Federation lifted its sanctions, aiming to let the path to peace begin through judo.

For Russia, Ayub Bliev took gold in the –60 kg category, and Arman Adamian triumphed in the –100 kg category. Russia also collected four silver medals through Chopanov, Tasuev, Bifov, and Bashaev, placing them ahead of the Japanese women overall despite a weaker performance in the women’s categories.

Laura Martinez Abelenda

Germany’s women also delivered impressive performances. The country earned two gold medals, Ballhaus in the –52 kg category and Monta Olek in the –78 kg category.

Kosovo fielded its Olympic champion Distria Krasniqi, drawing considerable attention to the –52 kg category. Despite entering as the favourite, Krasniqi was defeated in the quarterfinals by Hungary’s Reka Pupp and ultimately settled for bronze.

Mongolia claimed its only gold medal in the +100 kg category through Batkhuyag, while Georgia celebrated victory in the –90 kg category as Lasha Bekauri overcame his Moldovan opponent in the final.

Francois Gauthier

In the –81 kg category, Canada’s Francois Gauthier delivered a remarkable performance. He opened his campaign with a win over the United States, then progressed past opponents from Moldova and Bulgaria to reach the quarterfinals. There, he faced another Moldovan, Victor Sterpu, and defeated him before taking down Russia’s finalist to secure the gold medal.

Switzerland claimed gold in the –73 kg category, France secured the –66 kg title, and Spain earned its only gold through Laura Martinez Abelenda in the –48 kg.