Azerbaijan's national judo team claimed three bronze medals at the World Judo Championships in Budapest, signaling a promising start to the new Olympic cycle. While the result is seen as satisfactory, it also raises important questions about the team's overall performance and future potential.
The season’s most important event brought mixed reactions, Idman.biz reports.
On one hand, Zelim Tckaev (81 kg) and Eljan Hajiyev (90 kg) both secured their first-ever medals at a World Championship. On the other, Olympic champion Hidayat Heydarov (73 kg) made a disappointing return, losing his opening match to Georgia’s Otari Kvantidze. It’s worth noting that this was Heydarov’s first appearance under the newly revised rules, where a single yuko can now be decisive. Having missed the European Championships due to illness and not competing since the Olympics, jumping straight into the World Championships proved to be a psychological challenge. However, there is little doubt he will learn from the setback and return stronger — it’s all in his hands.
Zelym Kotsoiev, another Olympic champion, followed up his European silver medal with a bronze in Budapest. His journey wasn’t smooth — he lost his quarterfinal bout to Russian-Armenian judoka Arman Adamian after prematurely celebrating an ippon. That lapse allowed Adamian to lock in a match-ending hold. Recovering emotionally, Kotsoiev defeated Spain’s Nikoloz Sherazadishvili and then overcame South Korea’s Seheon Kim in the bronze medal match. Kotsoiev admitted he’s still not at peak form, but is confident he’ll get there with time.
Eljan Hajiyev proved his credentials in the 90 kg division. Earning his first World Championship bronze was particularly significant as he had undergone shoulder and knee surgeries after the Olympics. He narrowly missed the final after losing to Japan’s Goki Tajima in a match he had been leading, taking a risky throw that backfired. In the bronze medal match, he beat Estonia’s Kristofer Kaljulaid, opening a new chapter in his career.
Zelim Tckaev also celebrated a breakthrough, winning his first-ever world medal in the 81 kg division. He eliminated Olympic medalist Jun-Hwan Lee (South Korea), held his own in the semifinal against three-time world champion Tato Grigalashvili, and secured bronze by defeating UAE’s Nugzari Tatalashvili. Tckaev’s rapid rise, highlighted by a Grand Slam gold and bronzes at both the European and World Championships within the last six months, confirms his upward trajectory.
Heavyweight Ushangi Kokauri (+100 kg) came close to the podium. He won his first three matches and avenged a past Olympic loss to Cuba’s Andy Granda. Although he fell to Olympic silver medalist Guram Tushishvili in the quarterfinals, he bounced back to defeat two-time Olympic champion Lukas Krpalek in the repechage — a repeat of his memorable bronze-winning performance against the Czech in Baku seven years ago. This time, however, he missed out on a medal after losing the bronze match to world no.1 Temur Rakhimov of Tajikistan, finishing fifth.
The Budapest championships reaffirmed judo’s unpredictability, even for the sport’s biggest names. Japan’s double Olympic champion Hifumi Abe settled for bronze, while two-time Olympic champion Takanori Nagase (81 kg) exited in his opening bout.
Looking ahead, Azerbaijan faces a major task — next year’s World Judo Championships will be held in Baku, and the national team will need to reach peak form in time to shine on home soil.
For now, attention turns to the mixed team competition, where Azerbaijan will face Germany in the round of 16.
Zaki Feyzullayev
Idman.biz
