A judoka in a white judogi controls an opponent in a blue judogi during a throw on a yellow mat.

Five Champions Emerge on Day Two in Nagoya

Five more individual champions were crowned in the judo competition at the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Day two at Aichi International Arena delivered medals across five weight categories, with athletes from a wide range of nations reaching the podium.

Kazbek Naguchev gave the United Arab Emirates a major result in the men’s -73 kg division, taking gold ahead of Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Ahadov. Muhiddin Asadulloev of Tajikistan and Tatsuki Ishihara of Japan completed the podium with bronze medals, underlining the depth of a category packed with strong contenders.

Japan’s Sotaro Fujiwara led the men’s -81 kg field, securing gold in a division where all four medallists represented different countries. Adilet Almat of Kazakhstan earned silver, while Joonhwan Lee of the Republic of Korea and Abubakr Sherov of Tajikistan claimed bronze.

Five categories produced podiums shared by eight different nations.

The Republic of Korea celebrated another title through Mimi Huh in the women’s -57 kg category. Ariunzaya Terbish of Mongolia finished with silver, while Japan’s Mio Shirakane and Hyon A Kim of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea took bronze.

In the women’s -63 kg class, Narumi Tanioka won gold for Japan. Ji Hye Kim of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea claimed silver, with Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo of Mongolia and Esmigul Kuyulova of Kazakhstan also stepping onto the podium.

Rin Maeda added another Japanese gold in the women’s -70 kg category. Kazakhstan’s Azhar Askhat secured silver, while Song Hui Mun of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Anujin Uran-Ulzii of Mongolia earned bronze medals.

After two days, Japan has collected five titles, but the competition has also seen gold medals for Uzbekistan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea and the United Arab Emirates. Kazakhstan and Tajikistan have maintained steady podium form, while China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have also made their presence felt.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation

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