The opening day of the OTP Group Tashkent Grand Slam 2026 did not deliver Europe’s strongest overall performance. Nevertheless, there was a golden moment to celebrate as Ahmad Yusifov (AZE) triumphed in the -60kg category. Azerbaijan also added a silver medal and currently sits in second place in the overall medal table. Japan leads convincingly with two gold, three silver and two bronze medals, opening a significant gap over the rest of the field.
Yusifov’s path to gold included five victories and a landmark performance. Already a two-time Grand Slam bronze medallist, the 26-year-old reached the first Grand Slam final of his career, confirming his steady rise among the elite.
The final became an all-Azerbaijani affair, with Balabay Aghayev standing opposite Yusifov. It was a tense and tactical contest, the two judoka knowing each other inside out. Neither was willing to concede ground. At the start of golden score, Aghayev carried a slight disadvantage, having accumulated two penalties during regular time. Beyond the gold medal itself, there was perhaps even more at stake: the symbolic battle for national supremacy at -60kg. With his victory in Paris, Aghayev had held the upper hand in recent months. As the contest wore on and both athletes stood level on two penalties each, it was Yusifov who struck. Launching a seoi-otoshi at a decisive moment, he scored to claim his first Grand Slam gold medal. Aghayev had to settle for silver this time, though his impressive run continues.
In the -52kg category, Europe celebrated two bronze medals, courtesy of Odette Giuffrida (ITA) and Liliia Nugaeva (RUS). In the first bronze medal contest, Gabriela Conceicao (BRA) faced Giuffrida. Calm and focused, the Italian controlled the bout from start to finish. A perfectly timed ashi-waza earned her a waza-ari, enough to secure victory and mark her 19th Grand Slam podium finish.
In the second bronze medal contest, Sofia Asvesta (CYP) met Nugaeva with a podium place at stake. It was a narrow encounter, ultimately decided by a yuko scored by Nugaeva with a well-executed sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi, securing her first medal at Grand Slam level.
In the -66kg category, Europe claimed a single bronze medal through Abdullakh Parchiev (RUS), who faced Channyeong Kim (KOR). The contest took time to open up, with both athletes neutralising each other effectively. The breakthrough came when Parchiev executed a powerful counter, driving his opponent flat onto his back for ippon and a well-earned bronze medal.
A similar scenario unfolded in the -57kg category, where Ana Viktorija Puljiz (CRO) produced a stylish victory over reigning world champion Eteri Liparteliani (GEO) to secure bronze. After an early chaotic exchange, Liparteliani imposed her strength to score the first waza-ari. Less than a minute later, Puljiz responded with a sharp shoulder technique to level the score. Unfazed by her opponent’s world title status, the Croatian maintained the pressure. In golden score, her persistence paid off as she secured a decisive yuko to seal her place on the podium.
The second day of competition will feature the men’s -73kg and -81kg categories, alongside the women’s -63kg and -70kg divisions. Watch all the action live on JudoTV.com.
Source: IJF/Nicolas Messner
Author: Szandra Szogedi