The UAE judo team continued its campaign at the 2026 World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 7, 2026, as athletes faced mixed results in their respective weight categories during the second round of competition.
UAE Judo Team Faces Mixed Results in Baku
On the second day of competition, UAE athletes faced a mix of challenges and successes. In the men’s 81 kg category, Mohamed Marad and Talal Shfali competed against Bulgarian and Serbian opponents, respectively.
In the men’s 66 kg category, Baidan Narmend faced Argentina’s Joaquin Tova in a closely contested match that extended to extra time before a tactical error led to his defeat by Spain’s David Garcia Torne. Women’s athlete Bashirat Khurdi was disqualified in the 52 kg category following a controversial decision by the referees, according to the UAE team’s technical staff. The incident occurred after Khurdi received her third warning, prompting protests from the UAE delegation.
In the men’s 73 kg category, Mohamed Bek and Najad Yezbik faced opponents, while in the 100 kg category, Zafar Kosov competed against a refugee team member. In the +100 kg division, Omar Muwafak faced a winner from a match involving a Romanian player and an Estonian competitor.
Performance Highlights and Challenges
Despite the disqualification of Khurdi, the UAE team demonstrated resilience, with Narmend securing a strong performance in the men’s 66 kg category. Garcia Torne, who defeated Narmend, went on to win the silver medal after losing to the Japanese champion in the final. The UAE’s men’s team also included Mohamed Bek and Najad Yezbik.
The UAE’s delegation, which included 11 athletes, included Bashirat Khurdi in the 52 kg category, Oyoun Negril in the 57 kg category, and Eliza Letif in the 78 kg category. The team’s training camp in Germany included 60 matches against international competitors, and the draw for the tournament was conducted via video call.
