Mehdiyev Finds World Gold Again in Veterans Judo

Mammadali Mehdiyev of Azerbaijan made a powerful statement at the World Veteran Championships in Sarajevo, taking the M1 world title at the age of 33. His victory showed why former elite judoka continue to return to international competition: the drive to test themselves does not simply disappear.

Mehdiyev arrived with a remarkable senior record. He was a junior world bronze medallist in 2013, won twelve grand slam medals including two golds, and collected nine grand prix medals with two titles among them. He also competed at two Olympic Games. In Sarajevo, that experience helped carry him back to world gold in a different stage of his judo journey.

Veterans judo is not only for athletes with major international results, though. Many competitors have built strong careers at national level and remain connected to the sport through training, randori and competition. For them, entering a world championship is a personal decision to prepare, take responsibility and face a new challenge on the tatami.

Veterans competition keeps the challenge of judo alive beyond a senior career.

The event also has an educational side. A contest offers an honest measure of what a judoka has learned, what is still working and where progress can be made. Age does not end that process. Veterans competition gives athletes a place to keep learning while experiencing the intensity of opposition once again.

For some, the target is a specific number of titles. Alexsi Davitashvili of Georgia came to Sarajevo pursuing a tenth world crown. For others, success is more personal: stepping onto the tatami, giving their best and sharing the moment with the wider judo community.

The risks of sport remain, but the competitors in Sarajevo chose to be there and prepared for the occasion. Medical services and safety procedures were in place, while the athletes embraced movement, discipline and the mental and physical benefits of staying active.

Beyond medals, the championships also bring former opponents and friends together. The competitive edge is still there, but so are the exchanges away from the tatami and the shared connection to judo. Mehdiyev’s gold was one standout result, but Sarajevo underlined a wider message: for many judoka, the wish to compete, improve and belong never really leaves.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation