Baku’s Team Event Puts Judo Unity to the Test

The mixed team event takes over in Baku after seven demanding days of individual Judo competition. With 14 world champions crowned and 42 additional medallists on the podium, the final day shifts attention from personal ambition to collective performance.

Each delegation can select six judoka: three women and three men. The challenge is not only to choose strong athletes, but to build a line-up that is fresh, balanced and ready for the tactical demands of team competition. Some judoka may also move up a weight category compared with their individual event.

That flexibility can be decisive. A team with fewer individual medals can still create momentum, draw energy from its supporters and challenge a favourite when every contest carries shared pressure. In the mixed team format, one result can quickly lift an entire squad.

Georgia arrive as defending world champions after becoming the first nation to stop Japan from taking the mixed team world title in 2025. Their opening match against Italy is one of the standout contests in the draw, especially after Italy’s athletes delivered several strong performances during the individual competition. The winner will face either Uzbekistan or Germany.

France are also part of a highly competitive lower section featuring Korea, Russia and Kazakhstan. France have already shown their strength in Olympic mixed team Judo, defeating Japan in both editions of the event, including a memorable victory at Paris 2024. The United Arab Emirates are in the same part of the draw, with Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko bringing momentum after becoming the country’s first-ever world champion.

Japan remain the clear favourite based on the individual results, but mixed teams do not always follow the form book. Their route could include the winners of Mongolia versus Kyrgyzstan, if Japan first navigate their earlier contest.

The preliminary round also carries real importance. Host nation Azerbaijan face Austria, while Russia meet the United Arab Emirates, with those matches determining the next stage. Brazil take on China, with Cuba or Türkiye waiting for the winners.

In team Judo, every point can change the energy of the whole arena.

The mixed team competition takes place on Sunday 11 October, starting at 9am in Baku (7am in Luxembourg), according to the IJF preview published on 10 October. Team line-ups were still unconfirmed when that preview was published, and substitutions may affect the match-ups.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation