Standfirst: Tato Grigalashvili defeated Azerbaijan’s Zelim Tckaev to win his fourth world title in the -81kg category at the World Judo Championships in Baku. Japan’s Haruka Kaju also retained her -63kg crown, extending her unbeaten World Judo Tour streak to 40 contests.
Georgia’s Tato Grigalashvili returned to the top of the world podium on day four of the 2026 World Judo Championships, while Japan’s Haruka Kaju produced another dominant performance to defend her title in Baku.
The results delivered major milestones in both middleweight divisions. Grigalashvili added a fourth world gold medal to his collection in the -81kg category, and Kaju maintained a remarkable unbeaten record on the World Judo Tour.
Grigalashvili claims fourth world championship
Grigalashvili entered the -81kg final as a three-time world champion. After taking silver the previous year, the Georgian judoka had another opportunity to reclaim the sport’s biggest individual prize.
His opponent was Azerbaijan’s Zelim Tckaev, who enjoyed strong home support in Baku. Tckaev had won world bronze the previous year and was seeking to go one step further by capturing gold on home soil.
Despite the pressure of the occasion and the energy inside the arena, Grigalashvili secured the victory. The result restored him to the top of the world podium and strengthened his status as one of the leading figures in modern judo.
Tckaev’s silver medal represented a significant achievement in front of the Azerbaijani crowd, although the home favourite was unable to complete the move from bronze to gold.
Kaju remains unbeaten after 40 contests
Haruka Kaju successfully defended her world title in the -63kg division, defeating Kerem Primo in the final.
The Japanese champion arrived in Baku with an extraordinary record on the World Judo Tour. She had not lost a contest on the tour, and her victory over Primo extended that run to 40 contests.
Kaju reached the final with the opportunity to retain the red backpatch worn by the reigning world champion. Primo, meanwhile, was competing in the first World Championship final of her career and her first World Judo Tour final.
The decisive moment came when Kaju took control in ne-waza, or groundwork. Her precision and composure on the mat allowed her to complete the contest successfully and secure another world title.
The result marked another important achievement for Japanese judo and continued Kaju’s exceptional run at the highest level of international competition.
What happened on day four in Baku?
The fourth day of the World Judo Championships focused on the middleweight divisions, with both finals producing notable stories:
- -63kg women: Haruka Kaju defeated Kerem Primo to retain her world title.
- -81kg men: Tato Grigalashvili defeated home favourite Zelim Tckaev to win his fourth world championship.
- Venue: Baku, Azerbaijan, which is hosting the 2026 World Judo Championships.
The medal ceremonies added further high-profile names to the day. Football legend Lothar Matthäus presented the medals in the women’s -63kg category, while Azerbaijan Judo Federation president Rashad Nabiyеv presented the medals for the men’s -81kg division.
Why the results matter
Grigalashvili’s fourth world title places his latest achievement in the wider context of a highly successful career. His return to gold after taking silver the previous year underlined his ability to respond at a major championship.
For Azerbaijan, Tckaev’s silver medal was an important result in a home tournament. Although he fell short in the final, his run to the championship bout gave local supporters a strong performance to celebrate.
Kaju’s victory was significant for a different reason. Winning a world championship is difficult enough; maintaining an unbeaten World Judo Tour run across 40 contests demonstrates extraordinary consistency. Her success also confirmed her position as the leading judoka in the women’s -63kg field at these championships.
What comes next at the World Judo Championships?
The Baku championships continue with further weight categories still to be decided. Athletes will now seek to join Kaju and Grigalashvili among the tournament’s world champions, while national teams will compete for additional medals across the remaining programme.
For the newly crowned champions, the immediate achievement is clear: Kaju has retained her title and extended an unbeaten streak that has reached 40 contests, while Grigalashvili has added a fourth world crown to his record.
Conclusion
The latest European judo news from Baku produced two standout results: Georgia’s Tato Grigalashvili won his fourth world title in the -81kg division, and Japan’s Haruka Kaju remained unbeaten after defending her -63kg crown. Their victories set a high standard for the rest of the 2026 World Judo Championships.
