Azerbaijan shone brightest at the Guadalajara Grand Prix 2025, held from 17–19 October, topping the overall medal table with a remarkable six gold and three bronze medals, even surpassing powerhouse Japan. In total, European athletes amassed 37 medals, including 10 gold, further proving the continent’s dominance on the international judo stage.
The opening day belonged to Amandine Buchard, whose silver medal in Lima last week was only a sign of things to come. Competing in just her second event at -57kg, the French star struck gold in emphatic fashion. Her final against teammate Ophélie Vellozzi highlighted the extraordinary depth of French judo. Both athletes displayed confident, attacking judo throughout the preliminaries, dispatching strong opposition with flair and precision. Vellozzi, already a bronze medallist at the Paris Grand Slam earlier this year, impressed with her tactical maturity, while Buchard thrilled the crowd with her signature kata-guruma, reaffirming her world-class credentials.
Day two brought a story of redemption and resilience. Olympic champion Hidayat Heydarov (AZE), who had suffered an early exit in Lima, returned to his best in Guadalajara. Focused and determined, he stormed through the -73kg field with precision throwing and total control on the ground, reminding everyone why he is the benchmark in the category. In the final, he faced Chusniddin Karimov (CZE), who has been steadily climbing the ranks with impressive consistency. Their contest was finely balanced, both judoka received a shido as they tested each other’s defences in a tactical duel. When the match entered golden score, Heydarov seized his moment. With impeccable timing, he launched a clean throw for ippon, sealing his return to gold and silencing any remaining doubts about his form.
Meanwhile, Lara Cvjetko (CRO) continued her brilliant run of form by capturing gold in the -70kg category. Facing Dena Pohl (GER) in the final, Cvjetko took early control with a perfectly executed o-soto-gaeshi to score a yuko. From then on, she maintained disciplined, compact defence, dictating the rhythm and leaving Pohl with few opportunities to respond. Cvjetko’s composure and precision secured her another international triumph, reinforcing her growing status as one of Europe’s most consistent performers.
The final day of action saw another Olympic champion reclaim centre stage. Zelym Kotsoiev (AZE) dominated throughout the -100kg draw, throwing with intent and finishing his bouts swiftly. On the opposite side of the bracket, Gennaro Pirelli (ITA) produced an equally strong performance, setting up a thrilling finale between two in-form athletes. In the final, Kotsoiev struck first with a sharp sumi-gaeshi for yuko. Pirelli battled fiercely, refusing to settle for silver but Kotsoiev’s control and precision were unshakeable. The Azerbaijan judo star held firm until the end, securing another gold and reaffirming his status as one of Europe’s elite.
With powerful performances from across the continent, Europe once again proved its class overseas. From Buchard’s brilliance to Heydarov’s redemption and Kotsoiev’s commanding finish, Guadalajara 2025 was a demonstration of European excellence. Full results and replays are available on JudoTV.com.
Images/Source: IJF / Tamara Kulumbegashvili
Author: Szandra Szogedi