The 2018 World Judo Championships produced a sensational day of judo as the ippons flow and two new champions were crowned on a day of redemption in Baku.
Double Paralympic champion Ilham ZAKIYEV (AZE) was presented with his 7th Dan by IJF Head Sports Director Mr. Vladimir BARTA

WOMEN -57kg: 

YOSHIDA goes one better than 2017 to strike gold for Japan Six-time Grand Slam gold medallist YOSHIDA Tsukasa (JPN) was crowned world champion after a dominant victory over Nekoda SMYTHE-DAVIS (GBR). Both judoka were on the podium a year ago at Budapest 2017 as YOSHIDA claimed silver and SMYTHE-DAVIS won bronze. YOSHIDA took the final to the Briton who made sure that her country was represented in a World Championships final for the first time since Karina BRYANT (GBR) took silver in Rotterdam in 2009.

Japan’s fourth gold medallist scored not one but two waza-ari in 80 seconds with a lethal display as she broke the deadlock with a tai-otoshi and finished with a neat ashi-waza attack from a ko-soto.      

In the first semi-final 2017 world bronze medallist SMYTHE-DAVIS strangled world champion DORJSUREN Sumiya (MGL) to dethrone the Mongolian and move one contest away from taking her 2018 title. In golden score SMYTHE-DAVIS, a product of London’s Ealing Judo Club, outworked the Mongolian on the ground with a proficient display of shime-waza to ensure a new owner of the red backpatch in the -57kg category.

In the second semi-final YOSHIDA defeated former teammate and Paris Grand Slam gold medallist Christa DEGUCHI (CAN). YOSHIDA avenged her Paris Grand Slam final loss to the Canadian star by throwing with a uchi-mata for a waza-ari to secure her spot in the final for the second year in a row.

In the first bronze medal contest DEGUCHI won Canada’s first medal in Baku by besting European Championships silver medallist Theresa STOLL (GER). It was the German judoka who took the lead before DEGUCHI fired back with a waza-ari from a o-uchi-gari. The former Japanese international broke the balance of her opponent with a combination of ashi-waza attacks before holding down STOLL for her second waza-ari score. The win meant that Canada finally had a first female medallist at the World Judo Championships and will hope for more in the coming days.       

In the second bronze medal contest DORJSUREN, who was wearing her red backpatch for the final time, was able to triumph over World Judo Masters bronze medallist KWON Youjeong (KOR). A four-minute stalemate ensued and golden score was required to produce a winner and the second -57kg gold medallist. DORJSUREN threw with a ura-nage for a match and medal-winning waza-ari as Mongolia opened their medal account at Baku 2018.    

Final YOSHIDA, Tsukasa (JPN) vs SMYTHE-DAVIS, Nekoda (GBR)    

Bronze Medal Fights DEGUCHI, Christa (CAN) v STOLL, Theresa (GER)                                DORJSUREN, Sumiya (MGL) v KWON, Youjeong (KOR)    

Semi-Finals SMYTHE-DAVIS, Nekoda (GBR) v DORJSUREN, Sumiya (MGL)     DEGUCHI, Christa (CAN) v YOSHIDA, Tsukasa (JPN)  

Final Results

1. YOSHIDA, Tsukasa (JPN)                                                          2. SMYTHE-DAVIS, Nekoda (GBR)                                                          3. DEGUCHI, Christa (CAN)                                             3. DORJSUREN, Sumiya (MGL)   5. STOLL, Theresa (GER)   5. KWON, Youjeong (KOR)                                   7. RECEVEAUX, Helene (FRA)      7. GJAKOVA, Nora (KOS)  

MEN -73kg: 

Double world medallist AN Changrim captures the world title from HASHIMOTO Defending world champion HASHIMOTO Soichi (JPN) lost his world crown to AN Changrim (KOR) who claimed his first senior world title. Asian Games silver medallist AN, who grew up in Japan and regularly fought in the All Japan School Championships, won the Junior world title in 2014 and claimed the greatest prize of his career in Baku at the expense of HASHIMOTO. The standout duo have been long-time rivals in Japan and outside on the international circuit. HASHIMOTO, who also lost to AN at the Hohhot Grand Prix final in May, was caught with a ko-soto-gake for ippon.

In the first semi-final HASHIMOTO was under pressure against home star Hidayat HEYDAROV (AZE). The Japanese showed his quality by absorbing a torrent of attacks from the Azeri and launched in golden score with his trademark sode-tsurikomi-goshi for ippon after 31 seconds of added time.     

In the second semi-final AN defeated Asian Games bronze medallist MOHAMMADI. The in-form South Korean judoka opened the scoring with a waza-ari from a seoi-otoshi and concluded a comprehensive win by showing off his groundwork. The Iranian ace, who won bronze at the Asian Games last month, had to submit to a juji-gatame and moved down into a bronze medal contest.  

In the first bronze medal contest MOHAMMADI defeated 2017 world bronze medallist GANBAATAR Odbayar (MGL). Mongolia were present in both -73kg bronze medal contests but started with a loss as MOHAMMADI was an emphatic winner by ippon from a nidan-ko-soto-gari.

In the second bronze medal contest HEYDAROV was the hero for Azerbaijan as he won his country’s first medal at their home World Championships. Rio 2016 Olympian at -60kg, TSEND-OCHIR Tsogtbaatar (MGL), finished fifth at -73kg like his older teammate GANBAATAR as the Azeri took bronze in front of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham ALIYEV.

Final AN, Changrim (KOR) v HASHIMOTO, Soichi (JPN)   

Bronze Medal Fights MOHAMMADI, Mohammad (IRI) v GANBAATAR, Odbayar (MGL)    HEYDAROV, Hidayat (AZE) v TSEND-OCHIR, Tsogtbaatar (MGL)   

Semi-Finals HASHIMOTO, Soichi (JPN) v HEYDAROV, Hidayat (AZE)     MOHAMMADI, Mohammad (IRI) v AN, Changrim (KOR)

Final Results

1. AN, Changrim (KOR)                                                  2. HASHIMOTO, Soichi (JPN)               3. MOHAMMADI, Mohammad (IRI)                                        3. HEYDAROV, Hidayat (AZE)      5. GANBAATAR, Odbayar (MGL)                                                                5. TSEND-OCHIR, Tsogtbaatar (MGL)          7. SMAGULOV, Zhansay (KAZ)     7. SHAVDATUASHVILI, Lasha (GEO) 

See also
Para-Judo
A Decisive Event

27. Sep. 2023 / The second day of competition at the IBSA Judo Grand ...

Para-Judo
Kamal Mammadov Can't Walk, But He Can Fly

27. Sep. 2023 / Kamal Mammadov is the Chairman of the Organising Committee ...

Baku Grand Slam
Mariana Vasileva: Finding a New Home

27. Sep. 2023 / Mariana Vasileva is Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister ...

Para-Judo
The Quintessence of Humanity

27. Sep. 2023 / For two days, we have been sharing the daily lives ...

Para-Judo
Things are Getting Easier

27. Sep. 2023 / Sara Alvarez Menendez is the Sport Director for Judo ...

Judo Culture
IJF 10th Dan

27. Sep. 2023 / Becoming an IJF 10th dan represents an amazing achievement, ...

Athlete Stories
Aaron Fara (AUT)

26. Sep. 2023 / Aaron Fara (AUT) is an athlete everyone in the world ...

Para-Judo
Four Gold Medals for Uzbekistan on Day 1 of the IBSA Judo Grand Prix Baku 2023

26. Sep. 2023 / The first day of competition at the IBSA Judo Grand ...

Para-Judo
Celebrating the Gold Medal Winners of Day 1 at the IBSA Grand Prix in Baku

26. Sep. 2023 / In a display of unwavering determination and unparalleled ...

Para-Judo
We Are Happy to Be Here

26. Sep. 2023 / Dr Antonio Castro is the head of the IJF Medical Commission ...

Para-Judo
Baku Is the Place to Be

26. Sep. 2023 / Janos Tardos is the Chairman of IBSA Judo, managing ...

Baku Grand Slam 2023
A Display of Values and Great Sportsmanship

24. Sep. 2023 / The first two days of the Heydar Aliyev Baku Grand ...

Baku Grand Slam 2023
+100kg: Tasoev Is the Strong Man of the Moment

24. Sep. 2023 / It’s a competition of strong men, very strong, that ...

INTERVIEW EXPRESS
Shishime Ai (JPN)

08. Jun. 2018 / The next reigning world champion to be invited to answer ...

News
5 Key Takeaways from judo’s first Tokyo 2020 qualifier

06. Jun. 2018 / Highlights from Hohhot Grand Prix 2018

VIDEO
Judo for the World in Iran

07. Jun. 2018 / In April 2018, the International Judo Federation and ...

Meeting
JUDO: A Beneficial Cause

07. Jun. 2018 / 'Society should believe in sport as a beneficial cause ...