Azerbaijan Judoka Learn Their Opening Opponents at Baku 2026

The draw for the World Judo Championships was held in Baku on 3 October, determining the opening opponents of the Azerbaijani judoka.

A total of 622 judoka — 335 men and 287 women — from 93 countries will compete at one of the most prestigious events on the international judo calendar.

Azerbaijan will be represented by 24 judoka — 17 men and seven women — across 13 weight categories in the individual competition. The national team will also compete in the mixed team event on 11 October.

The World Judo Championships will take place from 4 to 11 October at the National Gymnastics Arena.

Azerbaijan’s opening match-ups:

Women

-48 kg

Round of 64
Shafag Hamidova – Natasha Razafindrakalo (Madagascar)

Round of 32
Konul Aliyeva – Mary Dee Vargas Ley (Chile)

-52 kg

Round of 32
Gultaj Mammadaliyeva – Gefen Primo (Israel)

-57 kg

Round of 64
Khadija Gadashova – Zhanar Zholdosheva (Kyrgyzstan)

-63 kg

Round of 32
Hanna Zaitseva – winner of Pei Chun Yuan (Chinese Taipei) / Anna Kriza (Hungary)

-70 kg

Round of 64
Sudaba Aghayeva – Ai Tsunoda Roustant (Spain)

+78 kg

Round of 32
Madina Kaisinova – Asya Tavano (Italy)

Men

-60 kg

Round of 32
Balabay Aghayev – winner of Artsiom Kolasau (Belarus) / Dilshot Khalmatov (Ukraine)

Ahmad Yusifov – winner of Bakhram Boturov (Uzbekistan) / Tumenjargal Tuvshintur (Mongolia)

-66 kg

Round of 64
Turan Bayramov – Radu Izvoreanu (Moldova)

Nizami Imranov – Vazha Margvelashvili (Georgia)

Round of 32
Ruslan Pashayev – winner of Serdar Rahimov (Turkmenistan) / Adrian Nieto Chinarro (Spain)

-73 kg

Round of 64
Hidayat Heydarov – Akil Gjakova (Kosovo)

Round of 32
Rashid Mammadaliyev – winner of Adil Osmanov (Moldova) / Justin Lemire (Canada)

-81 kg

Round of 64
Vusal Galandarzade – Hristo Valkov (Bulgaria)

Round of 32
Zelim Tckaev – winner of Timothy Meuwsen (South Africa) / Victor Sterpu (Moldova)

Omar Rajabli – winner of Sibghatullah Arab (IRT) / Mahamadou Doukara (Mali)

-90 kg

Round of 64
Eljan Hajiyev – Alexander Knauf (USA)

Suleyman Shukurov – Kornelius Eilertsen (Norway)

Round of 32
Murad Fatiyev – winner of Yahor Varapayeu (Belarus) / Theodoros Tselidis (Greece)

-100 kg

Round of 64
Zelim Kotsoiev – Baymyrat Majanov (Turkmenistan)

+100 kg

Round of 32
Ushangi Kokauri – Emirkhan Zholdoshkazyiev (Kyrgyzstan)

Kenan Nasibov – winner of Losseni Kone (Germany) / Vidak Maljevic (Serbia)

Jamal Gamzatkhanov – Francisco Solis (Chile)

Mixed Team Event

Round of 16
Azerbaijan – Austria