During the 2024 Abu Dhabi World Judo Championships, history was made as athletes from all over the world showcased their incredible abilities and brought home medals. Athletes from Finland, Sweden, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan stood out with their exceptional performances.
In Finland, Luukas Saha made a remarkable achievement by winning a bronze medal in the -66 kg category. This broke a 43-year medal drought for Finnish judokas at the world championships. Ranked 38th in the world, Saha exceeded expectations and earned his country an Olympic quota for the upcoming Paris Games. His success brought immense pride to his team and the nation.
Sweden also had a historic moment with 18-year-old Tara Babulfath securing her first senior world championship medal. She became only the second female athlete in Swedish judo history to achieve this feat. Babulfath’s performance not only earned her a quota for the Paris Olympics but also raised hopes for Sweden to potentially secure its first Olympic medal in judo.
In the -73 kg category, Somon Makhmadbekov made Tajikistan proud by securing his country’s second world championship medal in history after Rasul Boqiev’s bronze in 2007. Makhmadbekov’s achievement marked a significant milestone for Tajik judo and brought immense national pride to the country.
Finally, Erlan Sherov made history by winning Kyrgyzstan’s first-ever world championship medal with a bronze in his category. Sherov set an example for future generations of judoka in his country to aspire to. These remarkable performances from athletes around the world at the Abu Dhabi World Judo Championships exemplified the diversity and talent present in the sport on a global scale.
Overall, these historical moments showcased how inclusive and globalized judo has become over time. It also highlights how athletes from different countries can come together to compete at such high levels while still maintaining their cultural identities and national pride.
