Among the unseeded competitors are also huge names such as Uta Abe (JPN), Sanshiro Murao (JPN) and Alisher Yusupov (UZB). They are the ones who made Thursday’s draw a nerve-racking occasion, understandably so. Seeding is far from being the only consideration though. Form, momentary brilliance, strategic planning and many other factors affect results and many popular predications can be upset by such elements.
Perhaps the biggest upset of the 2025 world championships, even with 6 days still left to run, is the defeat of 4-time world champion and double Olympic champion Hifumi Abe (JPN). He’s a giant of world judo, unbeaten in individual competition since 2019, but in Budapest his winning streak came to an end. He did reset the counter, beginning with his repechage and bronze medal contests and so the tally stands at 2, 2 wins in a row.
Obid Dzhebov (TJK) was the architect of this historic Abe defeat or perhaps the narrative should be switched and it should be called an historic victory for Dzhebov. Both are correct! Everyone in the world of judo understands how huge that result is but what can be learned from it? There are two huge lessons, one from each of the judoka involved.
Obid Dhzebov teaches us that no matter the odds against you, if you are hard-working, focused and understand your game, you can win. No-one is infallible, no-one is unbeatable and no-one wins simply by right or expectation. Dzhebov fought like a lion and became a world medallist and it was magnificent!
Hifumi Abe teaches us that even when everyone tells you that you’re the king, that you will win, that it’s impossible to lose, when defeat comes knocking, you accept it and respect it. Hifumi Abe’s loss in Budapest is one of the most professional performances any athlete could ever hope to give. He nodded quietly to the referee as the score was changed to ippon. He bowed deeply and sincerely to Obid Dzhebov and left the tatami without fuss, not even a negative expression on his face.
After the medal ceremony Abe compounded this image of integrity, saying, “I would be happy if judo becomes more and more popular. It's important to keep doing whatever you do without losing your core and to keep going without giving up.” These are the words of a champion and a role model.
If young judoka take nothing else from this world championships, these two lessons are key to all that Jigoro Kano wanted judo to be.