Tanaka and Omori Break Through as New Names Reach the Baku Podium

Ryuga Tanaka and Akari Omori claimed world titles on the third day of the World Championships in Baku, both stepping onto a senior world championship podium for the first time. Their victories added two more gold medals to Japan’s tally at the event.

Tanaka took the -73 kg title, following a family achievement that had already made headlines two years earlier, when his brother became world champion. In the -57 kg final, Omori defeated 2025 champion Eteri Liparteliani to secure the title.

The day also brought early exits for two major names. Olympic champion Hidayat Heydarov of Azerbaijan and French world champion Joan-Benjamin Gaba both left the competition before the final stages, underlining how quickly the picture can change at a world championship.

Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov of the UAE earned silver in the -73 kg category after what was described as a strong day of judo. It is his second world medal, following bronze last year.

Several athletes reached a world championship podium for the first time. Marica Perisic of Serbia, Ana Viktorija Puljiz of Croatia, Rashid Mammadaliyev of Azerbaijan and Dayyan Boulemtafes of France all added their names to the medal list in Baku. For Perisic, Puljiz and Boulemtafes, it was a notable day for European judo as they collected their first world championship podium finishes.

Japan now stands on five gold medals and remains at the top of the medal table after three days of competition. With eight days scheduled in Azerbaijan, the championship still has plenty of contests ahead.

First-time world podium finishes gave day three an unmistakably emotional edge.

Competition resumes on day four at 10:30 am local time.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation