The World Judo Tour returns to Abu Dhabi with Day 1 wins

Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Opens with Breakthrough Judo Victories

Poinews.com – The World Judo Tour resumed in Abu Dhabi immediately after the World Championships, bringing elite competition back to the Mubadala Arena for the opening day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam. The first programme delivered landmark medals, surprise results and a series of high-level contests across the lighter weight categories.

Azerbaijan enjoyed a particularly memorable start, while competitors from Croatia, Bahrain and France also claimed important victories. With athletes seeking strong results on one of judo’s most prominent international stages, Day 1 offered both established contenders and emerging names an opportunity to make an impact.

Aliyeva Makes Azerbaijani History at -48kg

The women’s -48kg final featured Türkiye’s Merve Azak against Azerbaijan’s Konul Aliyeva. Aliyeva emerged victorious to secure a milestone for her country: Azerbaijan’s first-ever women’s Grand Slam gold medal.

The result added historical significance to the opening session in Abu Dhabi, underlining the growing depth of women’s judo across the international circuit. International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer presented the medals.

Aghayev Delivers as Top Seed

At -60kg, Azerbaijan’s Balabay Aghayev entered as the top seed and faced 18-year-old Loiq Kudbudinov in the final. Aghayev demonstrated the qualities that made him the favourite, combining sharp movement with technical speed before producing a dynamic ippon.

His victory gave Azerbaijan another gold medal on the first day and confirmed his ability to perform under the pressure that accompanies a leading seed. International Judo Federation Vice President Dr Laszlo Toth awarded the medals.

Topolovec Claims First Grand Slam Gold

Croatia’s Tihea Topolovec achieved a major career result in the women’s -52kg category. Facing Olympic medallist Amandine Buchard in the final, Topolovec found the decisive score with a clever waza-ari.

The win brought Topolovec her first Grand Slam title, a notable achievement against an opponent with Olympic medal credentials. IOC Member Balazs Fürjes presented the medals following the final.

Grand Slam events are among the major stops on the World Judo Tour, and a first gold at this level represents a defining moment for any athlete. Topolovec’s result also illustrated how quickly the balance of a final can change when a competitor identifies the right attacking opportunity.

Boqiev Produces a Ranking Defying Upset

One of the standout stories of the day came in the men’s -66kg division. Bahrain’s Sukhrob Boqiev reached his first World Tour final, where he met Iago Abuladze. Despite arriving with a world ranking of 277, Boqiev completed a shock run to the title.

His gold medal showed that rankings do not decide the outcome once competition begins. In a sport where tactical discipline, timing and confidence can alter a contest in moments, Boqiev seized his opportunity on a major stage. International Judo Federation Vice President Obaid Al Anzi awarded the medals.

Fawaz Takes Second Grand Slam Title

France’s Martha Fawaz won the women’s -57kg final against Brazil’s Shirlen Nascimento, earning her second Grand Slam gold medal. The contest was settled by two waza-ari scores.

The first came through an opportunistic o-soto after a weak attack from Nascimento. Fawaz then extended her advantage with a forceful o-uchi-gari that carried the action across the tatami. The combination of alert countering and determined forward pressure proved decisive.

International Judo Federation Vice President Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko presented Fawaz with the gold medal. Her performance added another accomplished champion to the opening-day honours list.

Home Support and More Action Ahead

The home team also gave local spectators moments to celebrate, with the UAE’s Narmandakh BayanmunKh producing strong action during the day. The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam offers the host nation a chance to welcome international judo while showcasing its own athletes in front of a home crowd.

Beyond the medals, the opening day highlighted several recurring themes of top-level judo: the value of decisive scoring, the potential for unheralded athletes to overturn expectations, and the importance of composure in high-pressure finals. From Aliyeva’s historic achievement to Boqiev’s unexpected gold, the competition quickly established an unpredictable tone.

The tournament continues tomorrow with Day 2 of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, as more judoka take to the Mubadala Arena in pursuit of medals and valuable World Judo Tour success.