Historic Gold for Lytvynenko as Sulamanidze Triumphs in Baku
Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko made history at -78kg, defeating Kaila Issoufi to become the UAE’s first-ever judo world champion. At -100kg, Georgia’s Ilia Sulamanidze overcame Dota Arai in the final to claim his first world title, turning previous bronze into gold.
Welcome to the Baku World Judo Championships, where Kaila ISSOUFI of France showcased her exceptional skills at the -78kg category, advancing through the draw with remarkable prowess. On the other side, Yelyzaveta LYTVYNENKO of the United Arab Emirates, the world number two, was poised to take advantage of her opportunity on the global stage. As she entered the final, LYTVYNENKO was determined to claim her first World Championship gold medal for the UAE.
With a commanding start, LYTVYNENKO swiftly scored waza-ari with an impressive o-uchi-gari, surprising her opponent ISSOUFI and gaining an early edge. She solidified her lead by delivering a decisive second score, marking not only her first gold medal at the World Championships but also the first judo World Champion for the United Arab Emirates. IOC Member Mrs Filomena FORTES presented the medals.
In the -100kg category, Ilia SULAMANIDZE aimed to transition his World bronze to gold and was in exceptional form as he entered the final. With powerful and decisive actions throughout the day, the Georgian was determined to achieve the pinnacle of his career. ARAI Dota had previously earned World bronze in 2024 and World silver in 2025. The Japanese powerhouse hoped that 2026 would be the year he finally claimed gold and secured the top spot on the podium.
In the -100kg final, both competitors exhibited determination, but it was SULAMANIDZE who emerged victorious with a yuko, crowning him as the World Champion. This result marked the culmination of a career-defining performance. Georgian National Federation of Aquatic Sports President Mr Dimitri ABDUSHELISHVILI awarded the medals, setting the stage for tomorrow's heavyweight events.
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