Hui Xinran (Photo IJF/Kulumbegashvili Tamara)
As world number one, Hui Xinran of China has already demonstrated that she belongs among the very best. Third in Lausanne in October, as well as in Qingdao, Dushanbe and at the 2026 Asian Championships, she will need to take one more step forward if her world ranking is to be reflected on the women’s -48kg podium at the World Judo Championships starting today in Baku.
With the young Chinese judoka, anything is possible!
She could meet her teammate Zhuang Wenna in the semi-finals if both athletes progress as expected. Before that, however, Xinran may have to overcome leading contenders such as Shirine Boukli of France or Assunta Scutto of Italy, potentially from the very first round.
In the lower half of the draw, close attention will be paid to world number two Laura Martinez Abelenda of Spain, a finalist in Lausanne at the end of August, and Sabina Giliazova of Russia. At 32, Giliazova is already one of the most experienced judoka in the category.
Wakana Koga of Japan is another athlete to watch closely. A bronze medallist at the 2025 World Championships, she could yet prove herself dominant. The field of contenders for the ultimate title is broad. By tomorrow evening, we will know whether the world ranking has been respected or not.
Hosts hopes of a golden touch from Balabay Aghayev
The host nation begins strongly with an immediate contender for the men’s -60kg world title in Balabay Aghayev, world number one and the tournament’s top seed. Winner of the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam 2026 in June, Aghayev will be looking to return to a world podium. To date, his only world championship medal came at junior level, when he took silver in 2018.
One of his principal challengers will be the young Israeli, Izhak Ashpiz, now world number two after a series of impressive results, including a recent victory at the Hungary Grand Slam on 11th September and bronze at the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam 2026. Explosive, technically precise and tactically astute, Ashpiz is only 18! His strengths can also be his weaknesses though, and vice versa: he can win any contest by ippon but can also be caught in the same way. He is certainly one to watch.
A third serious contender for the title is Brazilian Michel Augusto. Third in Lausanne a few weeks ago and winner of the Lima Grand Prix this summer, he arrives for only his second senior world championships, determined to improve on the fifth place he achieved in Hungary last year.
Ayub Bliev will also be a major contender. The Russian judoka, already a world medallist in Budapest in 2025, will be doing everything possible to climb one or even two steps higher on the podium. Always difficult to control and dangerous in every exchange, he is one of the category’s strongest athletes at present, as demonstrated by his victory at the Dushanbe Grand Slam 2026.
There are many other established Olympic and world medallists capable of upsetting the current order. The depth of the category promises a compelling opening to the Baku World Championships 2026.
