Two new world champions were crowned on day three, both debutants on the podium of a world championship. However, their national anthem was familiar to everyone present inside the National Gymnastics Arena, the Japanese flag flying high above the podium, one for each category.
Ryuga Tanaka won the -73 kg category, two years after his brother became world champion, while Akari Omori won the -57 kg category, defeating the 2025 champion Eteri Liparteliani in an unmissable final. Japan now has five gold medals in Baku and remains firmly at the top of the medal table. Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov (UAE) was a worthy silver medalist at -73 kg after a great day of judo. This is his second world medal after he won bronze last year.
Alongside Tanaka and Omori, more new names were added to the history books of judo as Marica Perisic (SRB), Ana Viktorija Puljiz (CRO), Rashid Mammadaliyev (AZE) and Dayyan Boulemtafes (FRA) all earned their first steps on to a world championship podium. It was an emotional day for all of them.
It is hard to believe that we have already completed three of the eight days of competition in Azerbaijan. It is proving to be a magnificent edition of the IJF’s flagship event and we can’t wait to continue. Day 4 will begin at 10:30 am local time and all the action can be followed live on JudoTV.com