Uta and Hifumi Abe produced another landmark day for Japanese judo at the 2026 World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, retaining their places at the top of the sport.
Uta Abe won her sixth world title in the women’s under-52kg category, while her brother Hifumi claimed a fifth world crown in the men’s under-66kg division. Both victories came on the second day of competition.
The Abe siblings deliver another double triumph
Uta Abe faced Spain’s Ariane Toro Soler in the under-52kg final. Toro Soler, ranked fifth, had reached her first world championship final after a strong run through the preliminary rounds.
The contest was closely fought and tactical, but Abe’s experience ultimately proved decisive. The Japanese judoka secured another gold medal and extended her unbeaten record at the World Championships.
The victory represents a sixth world title for Abe in a career that has also included Olympic success. Retaining the crown in Baku further underlines her dominance of one of judo’s most competitive weight categories.
Uta Abe’s result
- Category: Women’s under-52kg
- Final: Uta Abe defeated Ariane Toro Soler
- Achievement: Sixth world championship title
- Record: Still unbeaten at the World Championships
Hifumi Abe finishes with spectacular ippon
Hifumi Abe followed his sister’s success in the men’s under-66kg final against Spain’s David Garcia Torne. The Spanish judoka had reached his first World Championships final after an impressive performance earlier in the day.
Abe, a double Olympic champion and four-time world champion before the event, delivered a decisive finish. His spectacular ippon ended the final and secured his fifth world title.
The result also restored Abe’s status as the champion of the division and added another major achievement to the family’s remarkable record in international judo.
Hifumi Abe’s result
- Category: Men’s under-66kg
- Final: Hifumi Abe defeated David Garcia Torne
- Achievement: Fifth world championship title
- Finish: Ippon in the final
Baku hosts a major event in the judo calendar
The championships are taking place in Baku, where the official opening ceremony was attended by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer and Azerbaijan Judo Federation President Rashad Nabiyev.
The second day brought together established champions and emerging contenders, with both Abe finals highlighting the depth of the competition. Toro Soler and Garcia Torne each made significant progress by reaching their respective finals, even though both ultimately finished with silver medals.
Medals were presented by OTP Group chief executive Peter Csanyi in the women’s competition and Olympic Council of Asia Vice President Otabek Umarov in the men’s event.
Why the victories matter
The double success is significant for Japanese judo, which continues to set the standard at the highest level of international competition. The Abe siblings have become two of the sport’s most recognisable champions, combining Olympic titles with repeated World Championships victories.
For Uta, the win preserves an extraordinary unbeaten World Championships record. For Hifumi, the ippon in Baku provided a powerful statement in the under-66kg division and added another world title to his collection.
The results also show the contrasting routes to the final. Toro Soler and Garcia Torne represented the next generation of challengers, while the Abe siblings once again converted final-round experience into gold.
What happens next
The 2026 World Judo Championships will continue in Baku with further weight categories scheduled to compete. Attention will now turn to whether other leading judokas can challenge the established champions and add their names to the medal list.
The latest results from Baku have already provided one of the championships’ defining moments: two siblings, two finals and two world titles on the same day.
Conclusion
The Abe siblings’ victories are the headline achievement from the second day of the Baku championships. Uta Abe captured a sixth world title without losing at the event, while Hifumi Abe secured his fifth crown with a spectacular ippon, reinforcing their place among the leading figures in modern judo.
