Azerbaijan's men's national judo team has set a new national record for the number of medals won at a single senior World Championships.
As reported by İdman.Biz, after four days of competition at the ongoing World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijani male judokas have claimed four medals — one gold, one silver and two bronze.
Ahmad Yusifov became world champion in the 60 kg category, while Zelim Tskayev secured silver in the 81 kg division. Rashid Mammadaliyev (73 kg) and Omar Rajabli (81 kg) added two bronze medals to the country's tally.
This marks the first time in history that Azerbaijan's men's team has won four medals at a single senior World Championships.
In terms of the overall medal count, Azerbaijan has already equaled its previous best result, achieved at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest.
On that occasion, three medals came from the men's competition and one from the women's event. Orkhan Safarov (60 kg) and Rustam Orujov (73 kg) claimed silver medals, while Elmar Gasimov (100 kg) secured bronze. Irina Kindzerska (+78 kg) added another bronze medal in the women's competition.
The men's three-medal achievement from 2017 was repeated at the 2025 World Championships, also held in Budapest.
At that tournament, Zelim Tskayev (81 kg), Eljan Hajiyev (90 kg) and Zelim Kotsoiev (100 kg) each won bronze medals, while Azerbaijan's female judokas finished without a podium place.
The comparison with the previous World Championships hosted by Baku in 2018 is particularly noteworthy.
Eight years ago, Azerbaijan finished its home tournament with just two medals. Ushangi Kokauri claimed silver in the +100 kg category, while Hidayat Heydarov earned bronze in the 73 kg division.
Azerbaijan finished 11th in the overall medal standings at that event.
This time, the national team has already doubled its medal tally from the 2018 home championships, with three more days of individual competition still remaining.
It is also worth noting that Azerbaijan's record for the most gold medals at a single World Championships belongs to the team that competed in 2024.
At the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, Hidayat Heydarov (73 kg) and Zelim Kotsoiev (100 kg) both became world champions.
Their two gold medals helped Azerbaijan finish fourth in the overall medal standings, marking one of the country's most successful performances in the history of the competition.
Therefore, the ongoing World Championships in Baku have already become historic for Azerbaijan's men's team in terms of total medals, while also equaling the country's overall record across both men's and women's events.
With the tournament continuing until October 11, Azerbaijan still has an opportunity to improve its historic medal tally and establish a new national benchmark.
