Japan’s Wakana Koga and Azerbaijan’s Ahmad Yusifov won world titles on the opening day of the 2026 World Judo Championships in Baku. Koga defeated Italy’s Assunta Scutto in the women’s under-48kg final, while Yusifov came from behind to beat Kazakhstan’s Sherzod Davlatov in the men’s under-60kg contest.
The two finals produced contrasting but equally memorable moments. Koga secured a breakthrough first world title after a controlled performance, while Yusifov delighted the home crowd with a comeback victory in front of supporters in Azerbaijan’s capital.
Koga completes her journey to a first world title
Assunta Scutto entered the under-48kg final with significant experience at this stage of the competition. The Italian reached her third consecutive world final and was seeking a second gold medal.
Her opponent, Wakana Koga, had already won world silver and bronze medals. The Japanese judoka produced strong performances throughout the day, building confidence and momentum before the decisive contest.
The final was closely fought, with both athletes limiting their opponent’s opportunities. Koga eventually found the opening she needed during groundwork. She remained composed under pressure and converted the chance decisively, bringing the contest to an emphatic conclusion.
The victory gave Koga her first world championship gold medal and completed a progression that had previously included silver and bronze at this level. Her medal was presented by Azer Aliyev, secretary general of the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee.
Yusifov delivers a home victory in Baku
The men’s under-60kg final featured two judoka competing in their first world final. Azerbaijan’s Ahmad Yusifov had the additional pressure of fighting on home soil, with the Baku crowd strongly behind him.
His opponent, Sherzod Davlatov of Kazakhstan, had looked assured during the earlier rounds and reached the final with the opportunity to claim a first world title. Davlatov made a strong start, taking a score before Yusifov mounted his response.
Yusifov’s ability to recover from the deficit proved decisive. He turned the contest around and secured victory, prompting loud celebrations among the home supporters. The result marked Yusifov’s first world championship title and created one of the defining scenes of the opening day.
International Judo Federation Executive Committee member Timur Kemell presented the medals for the under-60kg category.
What the opening day means for the championships
The first day in Baku established several themes likely to shape the rest of the tournament: established contenders facing major tests, first-time finalists making their mark and the influence of home support in a high-pressure final.
- Women’s under-48kg: Wakana Koga defeated Assunta Scutto to win gold.
- Men’s under-60kg: Ahmad Yusifov defeated Sherzod Davlatov after coming from behind.
- Key milestone: Koga and Yusifov both claimed their first world titles in their respective categories.
- Host-nation highlight: Yusifov’s victory gave Azerbaijan a celebratory start to its home championships.
For Scutto and Davlatov, the finals represented further evidence of their standing among the leading judoka in their divisions, even though both missed out on gold. For Koga and Yusifov, the results transformed long-awaited opportunities into championship victories.
More action ahead in Baku
The 2026 World Judo Championships continue in Baku with further weight categories scheduled to compete over the coming days. Attention will now turn to whether other leading judoka can match the opening day’s combination of technical quality, close contests and dramatic finishes.
The opening programme also underlined the importance of composure in championship judo. Koga waited for her opportunity on the ground, while Yusifov responded effectively after falling behind. Both victories came from athletes who managed the pressure of a world final at crucial moments.
Conclusion
Japan’s Wakana Koga and Azerbaijan’s Ahmad Yusifov are the first champions of the Baku World Judo Championships 2026. Koga’s breakthrough gold and Yusifov’s comeback in front of the home crowd provided a powerful start to the tournament, with more world-class judo still to come.
