Source: Judoinfo.hu
Twenty Olympic champions and 28 world champions have registered for the OTP Bank World Senior Judo Championships in Budapest, which will kick off on 13 June at the Papp László Sportaréna. The registration period has officially closed, with the final entry list featuring 564 judoka from 93 countries. It is safe to say that the crowd at the sport hall will be treated to an exceptional line-up of world-class competitors.
Of the 20 Olympic champions, eight were members of the French team that secured gold in the mixed team event. The remaining champions earned their titles in individual competitions, including Lukáš Krpálek (CZE), Lasha Bekauri (GEO), Japan’s Abe siblings and Takanori Nagase, most of whom are double Olympic champions.
Olympic Champions Competing in Budapest
- Hidayat Heydarov (Azerbaijan)
- Zelym Kotsoiev (Azerbaijan)
- Rafaela Silva (Brazil)
- Beatriz Souza (Brazil)
- Lukáš Krpálek (Czechia)
- Luka Mkheidze (France)
- Walide Khyar (France)
- Joan-Benjamin Gaba (France)
- Maxime-Gael Ngayap Hambou (France)
- Amandine Buchard (France)
- Shirine Boukli (France)
- Sarah-Leonie Cysique (France)
- Romane Dicko (France)
- Lasha Bekauri (Georgia)
- Alice Bellandi (Italy)
- Lasha Shavdatuashvili (Georgia)
- Hifumi Abe (Japan)
- Takanori Nagase (Japan)
- Uta Abe (Japan)
- Distria Krasniqi (Kosovo)
Among the 28 world champions, both Abe Hifumi and Abe Uta stand out with four titles each. Georgia’s Tato Grigalashvili is a three-time world champion, while Lukáš Krpálek, Jorge Fonseca, Nikoloz Sherazadishvili, and Rafaela Silva have all claimed two.
World Champions Competing in Budapest
- Hidayat Heydarov, Zelym Kotsoiev (Azerbaijan)
- Matthias Casse (Belgium)
- Rafaela Silva (Brazil)
- Andy Granda (Cuba)
- Lukáš Krpálek (Czechia)
- Margaux Pinot, Romane Dicko (France)
- Tato Grigalashvili, Luka Maisuradze, Guram Tushishvili, Giorgi Sardalashvili, Lasha Shavdatuashvili (Georgia)
- Inbar Lanir (Israel)
- Odette Giuffrida (Italy)
- Goki Tajima, Hifumi Abe, Takanori Nagase, Uta Abe (Japan)
- Nikoloz Sherazadishvili, Francisco Garrigós (Spain)
- Hu Mimi, Kim Min-jong (South Korea)
- Joanne van Lieshout (Netherlands)
- Nils Stump (Switzerland)
- Jorge Fonseca (Portugal)
- Armen Adamian (IJF)
- Inal Tasoev (IJF)
Host Nation Update
Olympic bronze medallist Tóth Krisztián will miss the upcoming World Judo Championships due to injury. His spot in the Hungarian team will be taken by Feczkó Csanád (-60kg). Despite the setback, Hungary’s representation has grown, as the International Judo Federation approved a request from the Hungarian Judo Association for three additional quota spots. This brings the total number of Hungarian competitors to 21. The newly added athletes are Andrási Márton (60kg), Nerpel Gergely (-90kg) and Gercsák Szabina (-63kg).
Buy Your Tickets Now and Meet the Champions in Budapest: https://www.eventim.hu/hu/jegyek/world-judo-championships-hungary-2025-budapest-papp-laszlo-sportarena-671076/event.html?co=hun&cm=3
Author: Szandra Szogedi