The International Judo Federation announced on Monday that Azerbaijan will again host the World Judo Championships in 2026.
“We are excited to announce that the 2026 edition will take place in Azerbaijan. This marks a return for the country, which last hosted the event in 2018,” the IJF announced.
The IJF praised Azerbaijan as a key player in the global judo scene, which was highlighted by the two Olympic gold medals won by Hidayat Heydarov and Zelim Kotsoyev at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 2026 championship will mark the beginning of the Olympic qualification process for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
The IJF said a world-class infrastructure, deep sporting traditions, and an enthusiastic fan base in Azerbaijan have facilitated the recognition of the country as a host for the 2026 world championship.
Previously, Azerbaijan hosted the 32nd World Judo Championship on September 20-27, 2018, involving 755 athletes from 124 countries.
In IJF men’s world rankings for 2024, Azerbaijani judokas Hidayat Heydarov and Zalim Kotsoyev stand on top of the list in -73 kg and -100 kg categories, respectively.
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