Uta Abe claimed a sixth world title in the −52 kg category, while her brother Hifumi Abe conquered the −66 kg category (Photos IJF/Gabriela Sabau, Emanuele Di Feliciantonio, Tamara Kulumbegashvili)
The Abe siblings once again confirmed their extraordinary status. Uta Abe claimed a sixth world title in the −52 kg category, while her brother Hifumi Abe conquered the −66 kg category once more at the World judo Championships in Baku.
Their achievements must never be viewed as routine. To return to the world championships year after year, with every opponent studying every movement and preparing a specific strategy, is one of the most difficult challenges in elite sport.
The pressure is permanent, the expectations immense and the smallest hesitation can change everything. Yet Uta and Hifumi Abe found their way through every trap. Their ability to remain composed under such scrutiny, to adapt and to prevail repeatedly, makes this new double success all the more remarkable.
Hifumi Abe does it again!
There was no telling if the mirror held up to the two categories of the second day would yield a reflection or not in the end; Japan and Spain had an athlete in each final. For Japan they were the prolific Abe siblings, Charged with climbing this judo mountain were debutants of world championship finals, Ariane Toro Soler and David Garcia Torne, for Spain.
It’s not out of line to say that Hifumi Abe had a difficult day in Baku. He fought long contests and couldn’t secure his usual rhythm. Yes, he won his matches, but it was tough and this added to Garcia Torne’s belief that he could take the gold. The Spanish judoka had also not delivered his best ippon judo but he had fought with great heart and found a way, no matter who stood in front of him.
Hifumi Abe put paid to any doubts! It took him one single, solitary minute to draw on all his strength, launching Garcia Torne with a massive seoi-nage for ippon. It was unequivocal; Hifumi Abe is still on top of the world and he now has a fifth world title to show for a hard day’s work.
Abe spoke candidly after his final, “After so many difficult contests, winning my fifth world title means even more to me; it feels incredible. I knew I had to be patient, especially at the beginning, to build the contest step by step. To finish it in my own style, with a strong ippon, makes it even more special. The support here gives me a huge amount of strength. Feeling the fans behind me gave me the energy and confidence to produce my best judo when it mattered most.
Now I have the gold and red back patches again and I want to keep them. There is another Olympic Games ahead and more world championship to come. I want to win those and continue proving myself at the very highest level.”
Abe has a 6th gold while Toro Soler gives everything for her first World medal
Ariane Toro Soler placed 5th at the 2025 edition of the world judo championships, a career best result at this level. In Baku, she pushed herself beyond that ceiling and landed squarely in the final.
Already in possession of her first world medal, colour unknown, judo-lovers hoped for researched, free and courageous performance. Against the 5-time world champion, a katana of the sport, anything less would be fruitless.
This final was a battle for sleeve control from the very first exchange. Toro Soler knew what was needed but, of course, doing it is another matter altogether against such a competitor.
As full time approached Toro Soler was down to penalties to one but the gripping remained fierce. Abe tried to attack but Toro Soler had solutions, coming close to throwing with an o-uchi-gari when Abe came over the top, for example. This led to an equalising penalty and almost a fresh start for the pair.
It wasn’t until seven and a half minutes of contest time had passed that Toro Soler conceded the third penalty. This was a thrilling contest, much closer than Uta Abe might have liked, but she did what needed to be done and exited the arena with her sixth world title.
After the final, Abe said, “I knew I had to be more aggressive, to attack, keep moving forward and impose my judo. That was the key to getting the victory I wanted. Competing here in Azerbaijan is always special because I feel so much support, whether at a grand slam or at the world championships. That support gives me a lot of strength.
When I won my first titles, I was younger and everything felt new. Today, I have much more experience and I have learnt a lot along the way. Of course, that changes the way I approach competition. There are moments when doubts or questions can enter my mind but the goal is to clear those thoughts away, trust myself completely and return to my very best level, where I know I can dominate. I want to keep winning, keep pushing myself and continue making history. My goal is to win at least ten world titles.”
