Japan Sets the Early Pace at Aichi-Nagoya 2026

Japan made a strong start to the judo competition at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, taking two of the four gold medals decided on opening day. At the Aichi International Arena, 199 judoka from 32 nations began a four-day contest featuring all 14 Olympic weight categories before Saturday’s mixed team event.

Hayato Kondo delivered the host nation’s first title in the men’s -60kg division. Kazakhstan’s Yeldos Smetov, the Olympic champion and one of the category’s best-known competitors, finished with silver. Uzbekistan’s Samariddin Kuchkarov and China’s Ma Yulin completed the podium with bronze medals.

Mongolia then celebrated its first gold of the competition in the men’s -66kg category. Yolk Kazirbyek claimed the title, with Uzbekistan’s Abdurakhim Nutfullœv taking silver. China’s Xue Ziyang and Bahrain’s Sukhrob Boqiev earned bronze.

Japan’s second gold came in the women’s -48kg category, where Mitsuki Kondo produced a decisive performance. Abiba Abuzhakynova of Kazakhstan won silver, while Narantsetseg Ganbaatar of Mongolia and Akhliya Muminova of Tajikistan stood on the bronze-medal positions.

Uzbekistan answered in the women’s -52kg division through Sita Kadamboeva, who secured gold. Jang Seyun of the Republic of Korea took silver, while Japan’s Kokoro Fujishiro and China’s Xu Aoyu each received bronze.

Four weight categories produced four different gold-medal stories on day one.

After the opening contests, Japan leads the medal table with two titles. Uzbekistan and Mongolia each have one gold, while Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan, the Republic of Korea and Bahrain have also reached the podium.

The Asian Games have a special place in the judo calendar, bringing the continent’s leading programmes together under their national flags in a wider multi-sport setting. With the competition taking place in Japan, the birthplace of judo, the opening day carried additional significance.

The action continues on Thursday with the men’s -73kg and -81kg categories, plus the women’s -57kg, -63kg and -70kg divisions. Five more medal events will add fresh momentum to an already deep and competitive field in Nagoya.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation