Nagayama upset by Bliev in Abu Dhabi World Championships

Ryuju Nagayama, the only Japanese judoka slated to compete in both the Abu Dhabi World Championships 2024 and the upcoming Paris Olympic Games, faced a surprising early exit in Abu Dhabi. The 28-year-old, who has already secured two world bronze medals, was a top contender for the gold in the -60kg category, aiming for his first senior world title and hoping to step out of the shadow of his illustrious teammate, Naohisa Takato, a 4-time world champion and Tokyo Olympic gold medallist.

Nagayama’s journey in Abu Dhabi began with a challenging opening match against Ayub Bliev, a 26-year-old individual neutral athlete competing in his first senior world championships. Despite being relatively new to the world stage, Bliev had won three grand slam medals in the past seven months, including a gold medal in Antalya in March. The two had previously faced each other in the semi-final of the Tokyo Grand Slam 2023, where Nagayama had emerged victorious with a waza-ari scored using uchi-mata.

In Abu Dhabi, however, Bliev turned the tables on Nagayama. From the start, Bliev launched relentless attacks, employing a cross-grip on Nagayama’s right sleeve and a grip around the back, both in standing and ground techniques. Nagayama attempted to counter with several low dropping attacks and his signature uchi-mata, but Bliev’s superior stamina and persistent pressure were evident throughout the match.

In the second minute of golden score, under intense pressure from Bliev, Nagayama attempted another uchi-mata. Bliev skillfully sidestepped the move and scored a waza-ari with uchi-mata-sukashi, securing a well-deserved victory. Nagayama, visibly disappointed, will have to wait for another opportunity to claim the world champion title.

Despite 2024 being an Olympic year, the competition in Abu Dhabi remains fierce, with 24 of the world's top 30 ranked athletes participating across the three categories on day one. Nagayama’s unexpected defeat serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the world championships and the difficulty of living up to top rankings. As the tournament progresses, more surprises are likely to unfold, keeping fans and competitors on edge.