–90 kg: A Tough Morning Leads to a Bekauri–Latisev Final
The –90 kg category was the last to complete its preliminary rounds, largely due to a succession of intense, hard-fought contests that stretched through the morning. Among the favourites, but not necessarily the most scrutinised, Jonghoon Kim (KOR) proved the most efficient in navigating the top half of the draw, while top seed Rafael Macedo (BRA) made an early exit. Meanwhile, double Olympic champion Lasha Bekauri (GEO) advanced steadily, imposing his unmistakable style and eventually joining Kim in the semi-final. There, Bekauri secured yet another final by defeating the Korean judoka.
Brazil’s second representative, Marcelo Fronckowiak, fared little better than his teammate, falling in the second round to former world champion Nemanja Majdov (SRB). Majdov then bowed out to Mihail Latisev (MDA), who continued his confident march through the bracket.
In the lower part of the draw, Olympic medallist Theodoros Tselidis (GRE) once again relied on his trademark low o-uchi-gari combined with a shoulder movement, an attack everyone knows, yet few can stop. He progressed round by round until meeting Murad Fatiyev (AZE), who managed to neutralise the Greek and qualify for the semi-final. Unfortunately, Fatiyev suffered an injury during the contest and was unable to continue, allowing Mihail Latisev (MDA) to advance uncontested to the final. The gold-medal match was therefore set between Bekauri and Latisev.
The two bronze-medal contests presented contrasting situations. The first pitted Islam Sogenov (SRB) against Murad Fatiyev (AZE), but with Fatiyev unable to compete, the bronze was awarded to Sogenov. In the second contest, Nemanja Majdov (SRB) faced Jonghoon Kim (KOR).
–78 kg: Favourites Stay on Course as the Final Takes Shape
While several categories had seen unexpected eliminations earlier in the day, the situation in the –78 kg division unfolded with far greater clarity. Top seed Anna Monta Olek (GER) showed no hesitation in her march to the final. She opened with a confident win over Petrunjela Pavić (CRO), followed by a strong performance against the experienced Guusje Steenhuis (NED). In the semi-final, Olek overcame former world champion and Olympic silver medallist Inbar Lanir (ISR) by waza-ari, an excellent display that confirmed her outstanding form.
In the opposite half of the draw, all attention was inevitably focused on Alice Bellandi (ITA), the reigning world and Olympic champion. She rose to the occasion with the assurance expected of her status, advancing to the final without encountering any major difficulty. The gold-medal contest would therefore be a rematch of the most recent world championship final.
Guusje Steenhuis (NED) once again reached the final block of a major international event and was set to face Mizuki Sugimura (JPN) for a bronze medal. In the other contest, Kaila Issoufi (FRA) prepared to meet Inbar Lanir (ISR) in a bid to complete the podium.
–100 kg: A Day of Surprises as Outsiders Seize Control
The day did not begin auspiciously for the category’s top favourite, as Dzhafar Kostoev (UAE) was eliminated in his opening contest by Darko Brašnjović (SRB). The Serbian, however, did not progress much further, falling to an in-form Simeon Catharina (NED).
In pool B, two former world champions set the tone: Nikoloz Sherazadishvili (ESP), now firmly established at -100 kg, appeared on course for the semi-finals but he found himself up against Arman Adamian (RUS), another former world champion who looked entirely unstoppable on the day. Adamian continued his dominant march by crushing Catharina’s hopes of gold with a clinical shime-waza victory in the semi.
In the lower half of the draw, the difficulties for the favourites continued. Leonardo Gonçalves (BRA) was pushed into the repechage by Zsombor Veg (HUN), who himself was later stopped by outsider Idar Bifov (RUS). Bifov’s momentum carried him all the way into the final, joining his compatriot Adamian.
Sherazadishvili retained one final chance to reach the podium in his bronze-medal contest against Zsombor Veg. In the other bronze-medal bout, it was Gonçalves and Catharina who were set to face off for a place on the podium.
+78 kg: A Morning of Upsets Shapes an Unexpected Final
France had high hopes for Léa Fontaine, who appeared well positioned to bring home another gold medal. However, her campaign ended abruptly in the opening round when she was disqualified for an action deemed contrary to the spirit of judo, a decision that dramatically reshaped the destiny of the category. Erica Simonetti (ITA) took full advantage of the opportunity, progressing to the semi-finals, though she was unable to resist Miki Mukunoki (JPN), who had earlier eliminated another favourite, Milica Žabić (SRB).
One more top contender fell early with the elimination of Marit Kamps (NED), defeated by Mariia Ivanova (RUS), who was then stopped by Anne Fatoumata M Bairo (FRA). Could France still reach the final despite the morning’s setbacks? The answer came quickly: M Bairo was overpowered by an uncompromising Xinran Niu (CHN), the only favourite to survive the early rounds. This set up an all-Asian final between Mukunoki and Niu.
Yuli Alma Mishiner (ISR) and Anne Fatoumata M Bairo (FRA) qualified for the first bronze-medal contest, while the second pitted Nominzul Dambadarjaa (MGL) against Erica Simonetti (ITA).
+100 kg: A Rapid Route to the Final
The final category of the competition was the first to reveal its line-up for the gold-medal contest, following a series of swift and decisive preliminary rounds. Ushangi Kokauri (AZE) appeared well on his way to asserting his status as top seed after an opening win against Mikita Sviryd (CRO). However, he was stopped in the next round, caught with a counter in golden score by Irakli Demetrashvili (GEO). The Georgian then faced Gonchigsuren Batkhuyag (MGL) in the semi-final but was unable to slow the momentum of the Mongolian judoka, who powered through to the final.
In the opposite half of the draw, the favourite was Tokyo 2021 Olympic medallist Tamerlan Bashaev (RUS), who encountered no major obstacles on his way to joining Batkhuyag in the final.
The two bronze-medal contests featured Dzhamal Gamzatkhanov (AZE) against Irakli Demetrashvili (GEO) and Ushangi Kokauri (AZE) versus Sur Spijkers (NED).