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The Abe siblings’ domination : Two judo world titles in Tashkent.

Japanese double world champion Uta Abe entered the event hoping to win a third title. She routinely beat her rivals and met France’s Amandine Buchard in the semi-finals. A deja vu, a rematch of the Olympic final where she took silver. Both athletes scored points, both gave each other nothing – and again the Japanese Olympic champion prevailed.

After taking bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, Britain’s Chelsie Giles has made a splash in the 52kg weight class. She defeated great fighters, including Kosovar Olympic under 48kg champion Distria Krasniqi in the semi-finals.

In a battle of equals, it was ultimately a clever counterattack by Abe that helped Uta win gold. Uta is now world champion and Olympic champion in one.

Yasuhiro Yamashita, member of the IJF Executive Committee, presented the medals

It was a great pleasure to win gold together with my brother, a very special competition for our family.
Uta Abe

Uta Abe is an exceptional fighter, and the judoka gene seems to run in the family:

In the 66kg class there are two fighters who stand out from all the others, both also from Japan: her brother Hifumi Abe and Joshiro Maruyama. In Tokyo, the two fought an incredible medal duel in which there were two winners: Maruyama holds the world title, Abe won Olympic gold.

In Tashkent, Maruyama made his way into the final with one incredible uchi-mata after another. But Abe also showed his skills in a series of attacks – it ended in a final that thrilled the judo world.

Like his sister, Hifumi Abe secured a waza-ari through a counterattack – and with it a hugely important victory. Together, brother and sister now hold 6 world titles and 2 Olympic titles. The precious metal was presented by Uzbek Minister of Sports Development Adkham Ikramov.

Together we won the Olympics, and today we became world champions together.
Hifumi Abe

Japan was not only the hot topic on the second day of competition: At the Judo World Championships in Tashkent, World Federation President Marius Vizer and the President of the Japanese Judo Federation Yasuhiro Yamashita signed the agreement on the continuation of the Grand Slam events in Tokyo in a solemn ceremony.

They thus underlined the close relationship between the IJF and the Japanese Judo Federation for the benefit of judo and the promotion of the sport throughout the world. The World Judo Tour will return to Tokyo in December, welcoming the world’s best judoka and fans from around the world for a celebration of the sport of judo.

Uzbekistan is a judo-loving nation, and a knowledgeable crowd gathered at the Humo Arena in Tashkent and was easily inspired. The best judoka in the world will compete here in Tashkent until 12 October. After day two, one thing is already certain: Judo fans will certainly not forget these World Championships in Uzbekistan.

By Frank