BAKU, Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan’s Ahmad Yusifov won the men’s 60-kilogram title at the World Judo Championships in Baku on Sunday, defeating Kazakhstan’s Sherzod Davlatov in the final.
The gold medal was Azerbaijan’s first at the home championship.
Yusifov defeated Mongolia’s Tumenjargal Tuvshintur and India’s Harsh Singh before beating Russia’s Ayub Bliev in the quarterfinal. He then overcame Taiwan’s Yung Wei Yang in the semifinal to reach the title contest.
The International Judo Federation listed Yusifov first in the final 60-kilogram standings, followed by Davlatov. Japan’s Ryuju Nagayama and Georgia’s Giorgi Sardalashvili won bronze medals.
The championship is being held at Baku’s National Gymnastics Arena. Individual competition runs from Oct. 4 through Oct. 10, with the mixed-team event scheduled for Oct. 11.
The IJF’s live competition data lists 621 athletes from 92 countries, including 335 men and 286 women. Azerbaijan entered 24 athletes - 17 men and seven women - across 13 individual weight categories and will also compete in the mixed-team event.
Sources: International Judo Federation; Report; Vesti Baku