THREE STRIKES ON THE PODIUM

Azerbaijani judokas met expectations at the first major international tournament of 2026. At the Grand Slam event in Paris, the national team was represented by eight athletes. The judokas dominated the competition, bagging the full set of medals. Competing in the up to 60 kg category, Balabey Aghayev dominated, triumphing over all opponents and securing the top spot on the podium. Zelim Tskayev (81 kg) lost only in the final and still took second place. Ruslan Pashayev, fighting in the up to 66 kg division, earned the bronze medal.

Azerbaijan's judo team's third-place finish among 78 competing countries is a testament to their hard-won achievements. In the overall standings of this prestigious tournament, Azerbaijan's team trailed only Japan and France.

Successes and setbacks

Olympic champions Hidayat Heydarov (73 kg), Zelim Kotsoyev (100 kg), and European champion and world championship bronze medallist Eljan Hajiyev were not included in Azerbaijan's squad. France sent 25 athletes, and Japan sent 56. Both countries fielded their main judokas, ensuring a high level of competition. Azerbaijan's team won three medals without its leading athletes, which is a positive outcome.

Before the tournament, it was widely predicted that winning gold in Paris would be extremely difficult, due to the large number of world and Olympic champions participating. It is clear that the success of two-time Grand Slam winner Balabey Aghayev is of great significance. Three Olympic medallists competed in his weight category. Balabey's championship deserves special recognition given the serious competition. His path to gold shows just how intense the contest was. In the first round, the judoka faced former world champion and three-time European champion Francisco Garrigos. In the following four bouts, Balabey was unstoppable and emphatically demonstrated his superiority.

Zelim Tskayev was the undisputed star of the Azerbaijan team. He was in the driving seat until the final fight. However, in the decisive match, he was unable to overcome Japanese judoka Yuhei Ono. Tskayev's second place is undoubtedly a satisfactory result, especially given the strong competition.

Ruslan Pashayev, competing in the up to 66 kg category, took third place in Paris. That he, a product of Sumgayit’s judo school, reached the podium confirms the steadiness of his performance. Since last year he has demonstrated resilience at most tournaments, and in 2026 he has a chance to firmly establish himself in the main team.

Unfortunately, for various reasons other Azerbaijani judokas did not perform at their best. High hopes were placed on Ushangi Kokauri and Kanan Nasibov, but both ended their campaigns at the round of 16 stage. The coaching staff must analyse these disappointing results carefully—especially Nasibov’s, who pleased fans in 2025 but made errors in Paris indicating a drop in standards.

It was evident that Vusal Galandarzade, who moved up to the 81 kg category, has not yet fully adapted. Despite losing to a Japanese athlete, the 21-year-old judoka has potential for more successful performances. Performances by Nazir Talibov (66 kg) and Azhdar Baghirov (100 kg), who were eliminated early, are difficult to assess positively; both showed levels below their capabilities on Parisian tatami.

New goals

Azerbaijani judoka Balabey Aghayev (60 kg), who won gold at the Paris Grand Slam, said he was fully prepared for the tournament:

"Grand Slam tournaments are among the toughest. We knew this competition would be challenging. Almost all my main rivals took part. I was ready, mentally and physically. I have my coaches to thank for that – they always support me. I am committed to daily improvement. Our federation provides excellent assistance, both morally and materially; they do everything possible for us. This attention and care help us develop and achieve success."

Bronze medallist Ruslan Pashayev (66 kg) also expressed satisfaction at being among the prize-winners:

"I could have won gold again and repeated last year's success. I made a serious mistake in the semi-final and lost that chance. I'm glad I didn't leave empty-handed after tough fights. "I will replace bronze with gold in upcoming tournaments."

As is customary after competitions, international training camps were held, involving athletes from 78 countries. Our team included 23 judokas (16 men and 7 women) participating in these joint preparations.