The middleweight divisions took center stage on the fourth day of the World Judo Championships in Baku, where Georgia's Tato Grigalashvili captured his fourth world title and Japan's Haruka Kaju successfully defended her crown to remain undefeated on the World Judo Tour.
In the women's -63kg category, reigning World Champion Kaju Haruka entered the tournament determined to maintain her flawless record, having never lost a single contest on the World Judo Tour. She advanced confidently to the final, aiming to defend her red backpatch for another year. Her opponent was Kerem Primo, who was competing in both her first World Championship final and her first-ever World Judo Tour final. Kaju asserted control during the final match using her signature groundwork. Once the fight transitioned to ne-waza, the Japanese judoka's clinical execution secured the victory. The win extended Kaju's extraordinary unbeaten streak to 40 consecutive contests, placing her once again at the top of the podium. German football legend Lothar Matthäus presented the medals for the category.
Meanwhile, the men's -81kg category saw triple World Champion and Georgian icon Tato Grigalashvili return to the top. After settling for a silver medal last year, Grigalashvili was focused on capturing a fourth world gold. Standing in his way in the final was Azerbaijan's Zelim Tckaev, who was aiming to upgrade his bronze medal from last year to a historic gold on home soil. Buoyed by an electric atmosphere and passionate home fans, Tckaev fought hard, but Grigalashvili rose to the occasion. The Georgian athlete delivered a decisive performance when it mattered most, clinching the victory and cementing his status as one of the modern greats of judo. The medals for the men's -81kg division were presented by Azerbaijan Judo Federation President Rashad Nabiyev.
