Asian judoka once again demonstrated their strength, technical excellence and competitive depth at the 2026 Paris Grand Slam, securing multiple gold, silver and bronze medals across both men’s and women’s divisions at the Accor Arena.
Heavyweight Authority: Japan and Korea Lead
The +100kg category concluded with an all-Japanese final, underlining Japan’s continued dominance in the heavyweight division. Kanta Nakano captured gold after a tactical contest against compatriot Hyoga Ota, with penalties ultimately deciding the outcome.
Korea’s Olympic and world medallist Kim Minjong added a bronze medal to Asia’s tally, executing a decisive o-soto-gari in the closing seconds of his contest to secure his place on the podium.
Hyoga Ota (JPN) and Kanta Nakano (JPN) at +100kg Final.
Irakli Demetrashvili (GEO) vs Minjong Kim (KOR) at +100kg Bronze medal contest
Arai Shines, Kazakhstan on the Podium (-100kg)
In the -100kg category, Dota Arai of Japan claimed gold following a high-level golden score battle, sealing victory with a perfectly timed de-ashi-harai.
Kazakhstan’s Nurlykhan Sharkhan earned bronze with a powerful seoi-otoshi in golden score, reinforcing Kazakhstan’s steady presence among the elite in this weight class.
ARAI Dota (JPN) vs Anton (UKR) at -100kg Final.
-100kg Medallists
Tajima and Oino Add to Japan’s Gold Collection
The -90kg division featured another all-Japanese final. Goki Tajima secured gold with a decisive ippon from a powerful o-uchi-gari, continuing his rise among the world’s top competitors. Tokumochi Hidetoshi gained Silver.
In -81kg, Yuhei Oino captured gold with a sharp de-ashi-harai to score yuko in the final. Kazakhstan again celebrated bronze success through Abylaikhan Zhubanazar, whose early kata-guruma score proved decisive.
Goki Tajima (JPN) vs Hidetoshi Tokumochi (JPN) at -90kg Final.
-90kg Medallists
-81kg Gold medallist, Yuhei Oino (JPN).
Asia secured both gold and silver in the -66kg category
The -66kg final brought together Japan’s Takeshi Takeoka and Korea’s Channyeong Kim in a high-level all-Asian contest. After conceding an early score, Takeoka responded with a dynamic sumi-gaeshi into osaekomi to claim gold.
Additional podium finishes came through Ruslan Pashayev (AZE), who secured bronze, and Japan’s Kairi Kentoku, whose composed tactical approach earned him a medal as well.
Takeshi Takeoka (JPN) vs Channyeong Kim (KOR) at -66kg Final.
-66kg Bronze medal contest, Kairi Kentoku (JPN) vs Daikii Bouba (FRA).
Strong Presence in the Lighter Women’s Divisions
In -48kg, China’s Wenna Zhuang reached the final after an impressive run, earning silver. Japan’s Wakana Koga and China’s Xinran Hui both claimed bronze medals, with Hui sealing her victory via osaekomi-waza.
In -57kg, Akari Omori of Japan secured silver, while Momo Tamaoki added bronze to Japan’s medal collection with an intelligent combination of throwing and ne-waza.
The -63kg category saw Mongolia’s Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo deliver an excellent performance to earn silver, a significant achievement for Mongolian judo on one of the sport’s most prestigious stages. Japan’s Kirari Yamaguchi added a bronze medal in the same category.
In -70kg, Rin Maeda of Japan claimed bronze, ensuring continued Asian representation on the podium.
-48kg MedalistsÂ
-57kg MedalistsÂ
The -63kg category saw Mongolia’s Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo deliver an excellent performance to earn silver, a significant achievement for Mongolian judo on one of the sport’s most prestigious stages. Japan’s Kirari Yamaguchi added a bronze medal in the same category.
In -70kg, Rin Maeda of Japan claimed bronze, ensuring continued Asian representation on the podium.
-63kg Final, Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo (MGL) vs Rafaela Silva (BRA).
-63kg Bronze medal contest, Friederike Stolze (GER) vs Kirari Yamaguchi (JPN).
In -70kg, Rin Maeda of Japan claimed bronze
Across all categories, Asian athletes displayed technical precision, strategic maturity and the enduring values of judo — respect, courage and friendship. From all-Japanese finals to strong performances by Korea, China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Mongolia, the continent’s judoka once again confirmed Asia’s leading role within the international judo community.
The Judo Union of Asia congratulates all Asian medallists and participants for their remarkable achievements and looks forward to continued success on the World Judo Tour as the season progresses.