Top 5 Stars of the 2026 Grand Slam Tashkent
The Grand Slam in Tashkent delivered everything judo fans love: big throws, clever tactics, surprise winners and an electric crowd. From established legends to breakthrough champions, the weekend in Uzbekistan showed exactly why the world judo tour is so exciting right now.
Some athletes confirmed their dominance. Others shocked the favourites. And one of them had the entire arena on its feet. Here are the five biggest stars of the 2026 Grand Slam Tashkent.
1. Hifumi Abe – The Champion Who Keeps Delivering
When Hifumi Abe steps onto the tatami, expectations are always sky-high and once again he delivered.
The Japanese superstar added another title to his already legendary career by winning gold in Tashkent. In the final he faced Nurali Emomali in a tight, tactical battle. Neither judoka could break the deadlock during regular time, sending the contest into golden score where the tension inside the arena was huge.
Moments like these are where champions prove themselves, and Abe showed exactly why he’s one of the greatest of his generation.
His career is already packed with highlights. Abe became world champion four times (2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023) and captured Olympic gold at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. Long before that, fans noticed his talent when he won Youth Olympic gold in 2014.
Since then he has rewritten the record books, including holding the record for the most Grand Slam victories ever and the scary part for his rivals? Abe still looks hungry for more.
2. Murad Fatiyev – The Breakthrough Moment
Every tournament produces a performance that makes people sit up and say: wow. In Tashkent, that moment belonged to Murad Fatiyev.
Facing Olympic champion Lasha Bekauri in the final is a challenge few athletes would welcome. Bekauri is famous for explosive attacks and unpredictable judo. But Fatiyev approached the fight with patience and discipline.
Halfway through the contest only Bekauri had picked up a penalty, showing how carefully the Azerbaijani was managing the match. Then came the key moment. In a messy exchange, Fatiyev reacted fastest and guided the Georgian to the mat for waza-ari. Suddenly the pressure was on the favourite.
Fatiyev followed up with a yuko and from that point controlled the fight brilliantly while Bekauri tried desperately to attack. The win surprised many fans but it didn’t come out of nowhere. Fatiyev has been steadily building his career for years with medals across the world tour, including Paris, Abu Dhabi and several Grand Slams. In Tashkent, it all came together.
3. Shukurjon Aminova – The Home Crowd Hero
There are few moments in sport more powerful than a home athlete winning gold and Shukurjon Aminova gave Uzbekistan exactly that. From the moment she defeated top seed Eteri Liparteliani in the earlier rounds, the atmosphere inside the arena changed. Suddenly the crowd believed something special might happen. By the time Aminova reached the final, the entire venue was behind her.
The gold medal match against Shirakane turned into a tense tactical battle. Both judoka searched for opportunities while the crowd roared after every exchange. Then the decisive moment arrived: Shirakane received her third penalty. The arena exploded.
Aminova celebrated with pure joy as she secured one of the biggest wins of her career and the host nation’s first title of the tournament.
Her results have been steadily improving in recent years. She already won the Grand Prix in Dushanbe in 2023 and collected medals at major events including the Universiade and the European Opens but this victory in front of her home fans might be the most special yet.
4. Miriam Butkereit – Experience Wins Again
Some judoka rely on explosive techniques. Others win through experience, control and perfect timing. Miriam Butkereit showed exactly how powerful that combination can be.
The German star, who took Olympic silver in Paris 2024, returned to Tashkent and once again left with gold in the -70kg category. In the final she faced France’s Melkia Auchecorne and approached the contest with calm confidence.
Butkereit controlled the pace from the start. She gradually took away her opponent’s attacking options before finding the decisive moment on the ground. Once she secured the hold-down, there was no escape: ippon.
The result confirmed her reputation as one of the most reliable competitors on the world tour. Over the last few years she has collected major results, including bronze at the 2025 World Championships and victory at the Paris Grand Slam.
Still only building towards the next Olympic cycle, Butkereit looks like an athlete peaking at exactly the right time. Los Angeles 2028 might already be on her mind.
5. Kaila Issoufi – The Surprise of the Tournament
Every Grand Slam has a breakout star. In Tashkent, that athlete was Kaila Issoufi.
The French judoka produced one of the smartest performances of the weekend to defeat top seed Anna Monta Olek, the 2025 world silver medallist. Going into the match, Issoufi knew exactly what she had to do: neutralise Olek’s dangerous makikomi attacks.
Her strategy was clear from the start. Control the sleeve, slow the rhythm, and wait for the right counter. It worked perfectly.
Issoufi scored first with a yuko before launching a beautifully timed counter for waza-ari that came close to ippon. But she wasn’t finished. Immediately transitioning to groundwork, she secured control and flowed into an armlock sequence to finish the match. Ippon and the biggest victory of her career.
Issoufi has been climbing steadily through the ranks with medals at European Opens and events around the world. After bronzes in Abu Dhabi and Dushanbe and a Grand Prix silver in Lima, she finally captured her first Grand Slam title and she did it in style.
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