Six names, 5 countries, 2 continents; just some of the statistics from the first weight category of the first final block of the 2026 World Championships. Here’s one more: the finalists, Scutto and Koga, already hold 7 world championship medals between them and as their run on day one in Baku placed them both in the final, that total will already rise to 9, regardless of who the champion will be.
Final, Assunta Scutto (ITA) vs Wakana Koga (JPN).
Assunta Scutto kept no secrets since winning the 2025 world title; the year since that day has been hard. An injury, surgery and several losses gave her cause to rethink her approach and with coach Antonio Ciano this is what she did. It worked and in Lima she won her first World Judo Tour medal since earning the red back number.
Wakana Koga arrived in Baku with a hunger to win the title, having reached world championship final blocks three times before without securing a gold medal. She was determined that today would be her day; she never dropped her guard.
Final, Assunta Scutto (ITA) vs Wakana Koga (JPN).
It took Koga less than a minute to register a first score, earning a yuko with a left-sided o-uchi-gari. Scutto showed immense strength not to fall back for ippon but then came the ne-waza and an inescapable hold from Koga. A minute and 15 seconds is all it took for Wakana Koga to earn her fourth world medal but her first gold. Scutto takes a 5th medal at this level, this time a silver.
Final, Assunta Scutto (ITA) vs Wakana Koga (JPN).
After the final, Koga was happy to talk about her experience, “I wanted to improve on the small details that had made the difference in the past. Last time I finished third and lost to Scutto so today I really wanted to overcome that and take that one extra step. I carried that determination with me throughout the competition and I think it helped me find the spirit I needed to go all the way.
There were many difficult fights to reach this point and I know there will be many more in the future. I want to keep progressing, keep winning and build on what I have achieved here.
Final, Assunta Scutto (ITA) and Wakana Koga (JPN).
The support from the crowd also meant a lot to me. I could feel the energy coming from the fans in the arena and I really drew strength from it. Their support helped me perform better and pushed me forward. Becoming world champion is a way of giving something back for all the support I have received along the way.”
Bronze medal contest, Shirine Boukli (FRA) vs Baasankhuu Bavuudorj (MGL).
This contest was not for the faint-hearted. Both judoka have an immense amount of experience and each has won medals at the very highest level. They tried to impose their individual styles but this is never easy, especially when your opponent knows you well and has their own world-class strengths.
Bronze medallist, Shirine Boukli (FRA).
With only one and a half minutes gone, there were already four penalties on the scoreboard. This could be interpreted in a negative way but this was an all-action contest, a game of will, of timing and of persistence.
The last of the penalties was directed at Bavuudorj for a false attack; Boukli let a huge grin spread across her face. This is her second world championship medal, following the silver medal she won in Doha in 2023.
Bronze medal contest, Sabina Giliazova (RUS) vs Marina Vorobeva (RUS).
In the all-Russian medal contest there was little space between Giliazova and Vorobeva. There was no shortage of effort or action but even daylight would have found it hard to sneak between them. As the clock ticked down to zero, a single penalty lay on each side of the scoreboard; everything was still to play for.
Bronze medallist, Sabina Giliazova (RUS).
After a minute and a half of extra time, there was a second penalty for each competitor, leaving both athletes in a precarious position. Eventually, with Giliazova taking the lead by pace and intensity, Vorobeva had to accept a third penalty. Sabina Giliazova had won her first world championship medal, a bronze.
Medals, cheques and flowers were presented by Secretary General of the Azerbaijan NOC Mr Azer Aliyev, AJJF President Mr Shinichi Nakamura, and IJF Hall of Fame member, Olympic and triple world medallist Mr Felice Mariani.
Bronze Medal Fights (-48 kg)
