Azerbaijan to Compete with 11 Judoka at Abu Dhabi Grand Slam

According to the International Judo Federation (IJF) calendar, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam will take place on 29–31 October in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Azerbaijan will be represented by 11 judoka (7 men and 4 women) across nine weight categories.

The team will be led by Elchin Ismayilov and Slavko Tekic, senior coaches of the men's national team; Amina Abdellatif, head coach of the women's national team; and Tarlan Karimov, women's team coach.

Around 400 judoka from 60 countries are expected to compete in the tournament, which offers qualification points for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Nazim Umbayev, a member of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation's Refereeing Committee and an IJF International Referee (Category A), will also officiate at the event, which is part of the World Judo Tour.

Azerbaijan's squad:

Women

-48 kg
Konul Aliyeva

-52 kg
Gultaj Mammadaliyeva

-70 kg
Sudaba Aghayeva

+78 kg
Madina Kaisinova

Men

-60 kg
Balabay Aghayev

-66 kg
Ruslan Pashayev

-73 kg
Kamran Suleymanov
Hidayat Heydarov

-90 kg
Eljan Hajiyev

+100 kg
Ushangi Kokauri
Jamal Gamzatkhanov