The IJF World Tour has arrived in Tbilisi, Georgia, offering European athletes an early glimpse of what awaits in just one month, when the Senior European Championships 2026 take centre stage in the Olympic Sports Palace. For now, however, the focus remains firmly on the present and Europe had every reason to celebrate an exceptional opening day at the Tbilisi Grand Slam 2026.
The continent claimed four of the five gold medals on offer and asserted its dominance across nearly every podium position. Here is how the final block of day one unfolded.
-48kg category: Beder claims first ever Grand Slam gold
Europe dominated the -48kg division with a clean sweep of the podium. In the opening bronze medal contest, Marina Vorobeva (RUS) met Sarah Ischt (GER). The bout was brief, with Vorobeva taking immediate control and finishing the contest with an osae-komi for ippon. In the second bronze medal bout, Sabina Giliazova (RUS) faced Eva Pérez Soler (ESP). Giliazova needed only slightly more time, executing a precise uchi-mata to throw her opponent cleanly onto her back for ippon.
The final featured Tuğçe Beder (TUR), who had been in outstanding form throughout the preliminary rounds, against world and Olympic medallist Tara Babulfath (SWE). On paper, Babulfath appeared the favourite but the contest unfolded differently. In a tactical and tightly fought encounter, Beder edged ahead, ultimately winning on penalties in golden score to claim her first-ever Grand Slam gold medal.
-60kg category: Ashpiz with the final say
The strong momentum continued in the -60kg category. Although bronze medal hopes slipped away, the final guaranteed success. Pool B favourite Izhak Ashpiz (ISR) secured his place in the gold medal contest. From the opposite side of the draw, Jorre Verstraeten (BEL) looked set to join him after opening with three consecutive victories. However, in the semi-final, he was stopped by Achyty Dombuu (RUS), a relatively new name on the World Judo Tour.
With just two Grand Slam appearances in 2025 and no significant results prior, Dombuu arrived in Tbilisi ranked 141st in the world. Nevertheless, he rose to the challenge, displaying calm and accurate judo to reach his first final at this level.
In the final, after a cautious opening exchange, Ashpiz took control with a strong counter, scoring waza-ari. Dombuu found himself further under pressure after receiving two penalties. Although he responded with a yuko, Ashpiz maintained his composure and dictated the remainder of the contest to secure the gold medal.
-52kg category: Pont on Point
Drama unfolded throughout the -52kg category. Top seed Reka Pupp (HUN) suffered an early exit, losing in the first round to Pauline Cuq (FRA), who carried her momentum through to the semi-finals.
There, she faced Great Britain’s Tatum Keen, who had yet to secure a medal at Grand Slam or Grand Prix level. Every journey has a beginning, and for Keen, that moment arrived here as she booked her place in the final by overcoming Cuq.
In the lower half of the draw, Gefen Primo (ISR) and Sofia Asvesta (CYP) were expected to progress but it was France’s Blandine Pont who emerged instead. A three-time Grand Slam winner at -48kg in 2023 (Paris, Tel Aviv and Antalya), Pont returned in excellent form. Confident and technically sharp, she gave her opponents little opportunity and advanced to the final to face Keen.
Before the gold medal contest, the bronze medal bouts took place. Sita Kadamboeva (UZB) faced Gabriela Dimitrova (BUL), with Dimitrova prevailing after a demanding contest, scoring a yuko to take the medal. In the second bronze medal match, Primo (ISR) met Cuq (FRA). Cuq showed determination and constant attacking intent but against Primo’s experience, it was not enough. After conceding three yuko scores, she was defeated, while Primo secured her 11th Grand Slam medal.
The final began at a high tempo, with strong gripping exchanges and dangerous groundwork from both athletes. Pont, however, proved the more active competitor, which was reflected in the penalties awarded. With less than a minute remaining, she took a decisive step forward, scoring a yuko with o-soto-gari at the edge of the contest area. Maintaining full control through her grips, Pont managed the closing stages with composure to claim her fourth Grand Slam gold medal, and her first at -52kg.
-66kg category: The Single Miss
This was the only category in which Europe did not secure gold, though there was still much to celebrate, with both bronze medals and silver remaining on the continent. In the first bronze medal contest, Ramazan Abdulaev (RUS) faced David García Torne (ESP). Their meeting extended into golden score, where Abdulaev delivered a decisive yuko with uchi-mata.
In the second bronze medal contest, Petros Christodoulides (CYP) met Tornike Gigauri (GEO). The home crowd came alive as Georgia’s first medal opportunity unfolded and Gigauri did not disappoint, scoring ippon with a spectacular sumi-gaeshi.
The final brought together Turan Bayramov (AZE) and Nurkanat Serikbayev (KAZ). The contest remained evenly balanced, with the first penalty only coming in the final minute against Bayramov for a false attack. As golden score approached, Serikbayev seized his opportunity, scoring yuko with a one-handed uchi-mata to take the gold medal.
-57kg category: A Statement Victory
In the opening bronze medal contest, Martha Fawaz (FRA) faced Acelya Toprak (GBR), both having shown consistency throughout the earlier rounds. Fawaz secured victory with a yuko from seoi-otoshi, despite sustained pressure from Toprak until the final seconds.
Local hopes rested on Nino Loladze (GEO), who faced Pihla Salonen (FIN) in the second bronze medal contest. Loladze took an early lead with a yuko, raising expectations among the home crowd but Salonen responded with a well-timed kata-guruma for waza-ari. She then sealed victory with a powerful counter for ippon, silencing the arena and claiming her first Grand Slam medal.
While several nations showed strong performances in this category, it was ultimately Israel that dominated, with Timna Nelson Levy (ISR) and Inbal Shemesh (ISR) both reaching the final.
For Nelson Levy, this marked a return to top form. Her only previous Grand Slam gold had come in 2021 in Tel Aviv and after a quieter period, this performance signalled a clear resurgence. Opposite her stood teammate Shemesh, already a two-time Grand Slam winner in 2022. Their contest would determine not only the gold medallist but also the internal hierarchy within the Israeli team.
Although an intense battle had been anticipated, the final proved decisive. After a short feeling-out phase, Nelson Levy demonstrated superior timing and strength, throwing her teammate with a powerful ko-soto-gake to secure victory.
All in all, Europe secured 17 of the 20 medals on offer. A good day at the office? That may well be an understatement. Tune in for day two on JudoTV and follow Europe’s elite as the action continues.
Source: IJF/Nicolas Messner
Author: EJU Media