Nagayama Will Have to Wait Even Longer for First World Title

Already with two world bronze medals under his belt, the 28-year-old was the firm favourite to take the gold at -60kg, a first senior world title, and further emerge from the shadow of his teammate, the Tokyo Olympic and 4-time world champion Naohisa Takato.

However, for Nagayama there was just the small matter of an opening contest with Ayub Bliev (AIN). The 26- year-old individual neutral athlete was competing in his first senior world championships but had won three grand slam medals in the past seven months, including gold in Antalya in March.

The pair had met once before, in the semi-final of the Tokyo Grand Slam 2023, where Nagayama was the victor by waza-ari, scored using uchi-mata halfway through the contest. Unfortunately for the Japanese judoka, the scores were reversed in Abu Dhabi.

Bliev attacked relentlessly using a cross-grip on Nagayama’s right sleeve and a grip around the back, both in tachi-waza and ne-waza. Nagayama tried his best to counter with several low dropping attacks and his uchi-mata where he could, but it was clear that Bliev’s stamina was superior today.

In the second minute of golden score, under pressure from Bliev, Nagayama attempted a tired uchi-mata again and Bliev sidestepped it, scoring waza-ari with uchi-mata-sukashi. Bliev progressed after a deserved victory, while an unsurprisingly disappointed Nagayama will have to be patient once more if he is to one day become world champion.

Despite 2024 being an Olympic year, the level in Abu Dhabi has not been diminished, with no fewer than 24 of the world’s top 30 ranked athletes present in the 3 categories on day 1. Nagayama’s exit is a timely reminder that living up to your ranking is no small feat on the occasion of a world championships; expect many more surprises in the coming days.