Flag to help: Russian judoists became the first at the Grand Slam

Russian judoka took first place in the medal standings of the Grand Slam tournament in Abu Dhabi, where they performed with a flag and anthem for the first time in a long time. The Russians won six medals: two gold and four silver. Ayub Bliev (up to 60 kg) and Arman Adamyan (up to 100 kg) won gold in the Russian Federation. Murad Chopanov (up to 66 kg) Abdul-Kerim Tasuev (up to 81 kg), Idar Bifov (up to 100 kg) and Tamerlan Bashaev (over 100 kg) won silver. The second place in the medal standings was taken by the Japanese team (two gold and two bronze medals). The Germans came third (two gold medals).

A dream come true

On the eve of the start of the Grand Slam tournament in Abu Dhabi, the Executive Committee of the International Judo Federation (IJF) decided to allow Russian athletes to compete under the flag and with the anthem. The IJF became the first organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which allowed Russians to compete without restrictions in the use of Russian symbols.

"This decision confirms the role of the IJF as a truly global federation and reinforces its commitment to fair, transparent and values—based governance," the IJF said in a statement.

"This is my dream, and we can say that it has come true," Boris Rotenberg, First Vice President of the Russian Judo Federation, told Izvestia. Now it's up to the guys, the motivation is maximum, so that everyone can hear the Russian national anthem again.

The Grand Slam is a series of international judo tournaments, which are second in prestige only to the World Championships and the Olympics. For athletes, this is also an opportunity to score rating points that can help them qualify for the World Cup and the Olympic Games. In 2025, the Abu Dhabi tournament was the eighth Grand Slam (the final, the ninth, will be held in Tokyo in December).

In the category up to 60 kg, 28-year-old Ayub Bliev from Kabardino-Balkaria won, confirming the status of the favorite. The bronze medalist of the 2025 World Cup won in the final against Enkhtaivan Ariubold from Mongolia, the silver medalist of the 2022 World Cup. Earlier this year, the Russian was the first at the Grand Slam tournament in Tashkent. Since August 2023, Ayub has been representing the famous St. Petersburg club Turbostroitel.

— At first glance, it seemed like a big responsibility, there was no flag or anthem for a very long time, but you won't believe it, I've never been as calm and confident as I am today. Does the Russian tricolor give confidence? It's not even up for discussion, we feel like we're behind a solid wall," Bliev said in an interview with TASS after the victory.

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Other feelings

In the category up to 66 kg, Murad Chopanov, a 27-year-old Dagestani, was considered one of the main contenders for victory. On the way to the final, Murad beat Brazilian Villian Lima, the silver medalist of the OI-2024. In the final, Chopanov lost to Walid Khyar, the Olympic champion of Paris in the team tournament. Hyar saved himself from defeat by making a throw in the last second of the bout. And then he took the points in extra time (golden score).

— You feel completely different when you have RUS on your back, not AIN or IJF, when our flag is in the protocols, and the fans are shouting "Russia!" from the stands, the press service of the Russian Judo Federation quotes Chopanov. — As for the meeting with the Frenchman, I will "talk over" him in my head for probably two more months. It was the same after the World Cup — I don't know how to lose, I suffer every defeat painfully, although outwardly I seem calm.

But in the category up to 73 kg, Russia was left without medals. The first place was taken by the Swiss world champion-2023 Nils Stamp. In the category up to 81 kg, 23-year-old Abdul-Kerim Tasuev from Chechnya took silver. This medal is his first at the IJF tournaments.

"I couldn't get a medal under the IJF flag, but I did under the Russian one," Tasuev said in an interview with TASS. — When I got to the finals, I really wanted our flag to be higher than everyone else. But it almost didn't work out. And yet I really hope that I will do it. I have a little bit of joy, because I still managed to take a medal at such a tournament.

The category up to 90 kg is another division where there were no Russian judoka among the winners. Two—time Olympic champion Lasha Bekauri of Georgia won gold.

But in the category up to 100 kg, the final was Russian. The bronze medalist of the World Cup-25 Arman Adamyan took to the tatami against Idar Bifov. The much more experienced and titled Adaman lost during the fight, but still took the gold. Adamyan won the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi for the third time. And in 2025, this is his third Grand Slam medal, having previously won two bronze medals (in Paris and Tbilisi).

It is also worth mentioning that in the semifinals Adamyan defeated the titled Simeon Katarina from the Netherlands by choke, and in general he fought at the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi brightly and spectacularly.

Tamerlan Bashayev, who was considered the favorite in the weight category over 100 kg, could also take gold. However, the bronze medalist of the Tokyo Games still lost to the representative of Mongolia, Gonchigsuren Batkhuyag.