The standout moment of the day was undoubtedly the men's -73kg final between Hidayat Heydarov (AZE) and Shakhram Ahadov (UZB), ultimately won by the 2024 Olympic champion, Heydarov, after more than eight minutes of gripping judo. Although the gold medal was awarded after a final penalty was issued against Ahadov, the contest itself was a true spectacle.
Abdullo Muradov, Technical Delegate for judo, remarked, “We have an amazing atmosphere here and the athletes’ preparation has been optimal. At the end of this first day, we can see a well-balanced medal distribution. We see a number of very strong athletes, particularly in the -73kg (today) and -81kg (tomorrow) categories. The level of women’s judo is also very high.
From an organisational point of view, everything is smooth and well managed, showing the excellent co-operation between the IJF and the local organisers.”
Sixteen countries were represented in the final block, exactly half of the 32 nations taking part. Out of the 16, 11 won medals. So far, Türkiye has claimed the lion share of the titles, securing four gold medals already (3 in the women's categories and one from the men).
As the momentum builds and the competition unfolds, one thing is clear, the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games are set to deliver a memorable display of skill, unity and the true spirit of judo.
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