Baku:The World Judo Championships commenced on October 5 with a grand opening ceremony at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku. The event began with a video presentation showcasing the global development of judo.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Rashad Nabiyev, President of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation, expressed his honor in welcoming the judo community back to Azerbaijan. He attributed the country's success in becoming a sports hub to the ongoing support from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the National Olympic Committee. Nabiyev also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in achieving this status, thanking the International Judo Federation (IJF) and its President, Marius Vizer, for organizing the event in Baku.

IJF President Marius Vizer, in his address, thanked Azerbaijan for its unwavering support for sports and judo, officially declaring the tournament open. The ceremony continued with an artistic program.

The championship, which runs until October 11, features 622 judokas from 93 countries, including 335 male and 287 female athletes. Azerbaijan is represented by 24 judokas, with 17 men and 7 women competing in 13 weight categories.

Azerbaijani judoka Ahmad Yusifov has already made a mark by winning a gold medal. Yusifov triumphed over Kazakhstan's Sherzod Davlatov in the men's 60kg final.