Abu Dhabi Sets the Next Olympic Ranking Test

The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2026 will bring World Judo Tour competition back into focus from 29 to 31 October in the United Arab Emirates. With the recent World Championships in Baku still fresh, the event is another major step in the LA28 Olympic qualification period.

First staged as a grand prix in 2009, the Abu Dhabi tournament has developed into an established grand slam on the international calendar. This year, it offers athletes a valuable chance to improve their ranking positions as the race towards Los Angeles gathers pace.

The IJF preview published on 26 October lists 395 athletes from 60 nations, with 33 judoka ranked inside the world top ten. For the leading names, Abu Dhabi is an opportunity to protect or strengthen their status. For those chasing them, every result could help close the gap towards the top eight and a possible seeded position.

Two world number ones are set to compete. Aoife Coughlan of Australia enters the -70 kg category after leaving Baku without a medal, while Israel’s Raz Hershko arrives in the +78 kg category following her bronze-medal performance at the World Championships.

Olympic ambitions will meet high-pressure Grand Slam Judo in Abu Dhabi.

The home team has two particularly compelling names for local fans. Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko, the UAE’s first world champion, will compete in front of her new supporters wearing the red backpatch. Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov, a World Championships finalist for the UAE, will also aim to reach the top of the podium on home soil.

Across three days at Mubadala Arena, the entry list points to intense contests between established leaders and challengers trying to make their next breakthrough. The stakes are clear: ranking points, momentum and a stronger position on the long road towards LA28.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2026 is set for spectacular action, Ippon and the emotions that come with a decisive moment in Olympic qualification.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation