Less than three months remain until the World Judo Championships in Baku. Nevertheless, experts are already considering various intriguing scenarios involving potential high-profile clashes. One of them is a possible rematch between Japan’s Uta Abe and Uzbek Olympic champion Diyora Keldiyorova.
İdman.Biz reports that five-time world champion and 2022 World Games winner Abe has already secured her place in Baku. There has been no confirmation regarding Keldiyorova so far. However, whether one of the most eagerly anticipated rematches in the judo world takes place in Azerbaijan depends on the decision of the Paris Olympic champion.
Japan has already selected its representative in the women’s 52kg category for the World Championships in Baku. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, has yet to announce its final squad. Keldiyorova has not competed in an official tournament since the 2024 Olympic Games. However, this does not mean that she has retired or taken a break from training. According to JudoInside, the athlete returned to training as early as April and has been gradually regaining her form. Everything now depends on when she returns to the tatami.
Abe and Keldiyorova have faced each other just three times. Yet each encounter has become a separate chapter in the history of women’s judo. Their first meeting came at the 2019 World Championships. On that occasion, Abe comfortably defeated her opponent in the opening stages and finished the contest with an ippon.
Four years later, they met again – this time in the final of the World Championships in Doha. Abe was once again the stronger judoka and ended the contest with an ippon.
It appeared that the Japanese judoka had complete control of the rivalry. Then came Paris. In their contest at the 2024 Olympic Games, Abe was leading by waza-ari with around a minute remaining. At that precise moment, Keldiyorova produced an unexpected technique to score ippon.
Within a matter of seconds, the situation changed completely. Abe, who had been regarded as the favourite, was eliminated from the tournament, while the Uzbek judoka continued her pursuit of the gold medal. The Japanese athlete was unable to contain her emotions after the defeat.
Abe also took an extended break following the painful Olympic defeat. However, her return was impressive. In February 2025, Uta won the Baku Grand Slam. She then claimed the 2025 world title, followed by gold at the Grand Slam held in her home country. Abe continued her winning run in 2026 by triumphing at the Grand Slam in Ulaanbaatar.
As a result, should the two meet in Baku, the Japanese judoka will arrive as the reigning world champion in the 52kg category and one of the main favourites.
Keldiyorova, meanwhile, is in a completely different situation. Among other things, she is returning after a lengthy break related to motherhood, and it remains unclear how quickly she will be able to regain her optimal competitive form.
Keldiyorova herself has already hinted at plans for a possible return. If she regains her sporting form, she could compete at the Asian Games, which begin on 30 September. However, the World Championships will start in Baku just four days later, on 4 October. Such a short gap makes it highly unlikely that she would compete at both events.
This presents an interesting choice. If Keldiyorova opts for the Asian Games, she will not face Abe. As expected, Japan will be represented by Kokoro Fujishiro in this weight category at the event. If the Uzbek champion instead postpones her return until the World Championships, Baku could witness the very clash that judo fans around the world are eagerly anticipating.
Baku could therefore become the stage for the next chapter of their rivalry.
