The incredible momentum of the World Judo Championships continued on day three in Tashkent: the International Judo Federation main event was a hive of activity as locals and fans who turned out to see the stars in action looked forward to what promised to be another phenomenal day. Judo.

Silva wins again, nine years later

In -57kg, Rafaela Silva, 2016 Olympic champion and 2013 world champion, was on fire all day. Bulgarian Ivelina Ilieva and Israeli Nelson Levy are on their way to the final.

There she would face Funakubo Haruka – whose quintessentially Japanese dominance on the court earned her a spot in the finals.

But it was Silva with another dynamic Uchi-mata who won the world title. Nine years after their previous triumph, raw emotion was on full display.

Kit McConnell, Sporting Director of the International Olympic Committee, presented the medals.

“When I was hugging my coach,” Silva later said. “I actually couldn’t believe I had become world champion again. And she was like, ‘You did it, it’s real, this moment is real! You did it again'”

Mongolia’s first world title since 2017

Hashimoto Soichi looked in fine form in the -73kg division, with the 2017 world champion beating Georgian legend and reigning world champion Lasha Shavdatuashvili en route to the final, to cheers from his family.

There he met Mongolian Olympic bronze medalist Tsogtbaatar Tsend-Ochir, a game against Canadian Arthur Margelidon the highlight of his run to the final.

And a flashback saw Tsend-Ochir claim Mongolia’s first world title since 2017. Following the inaugural Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam in June, it’s been a fantastic year for Mongolian judo.

Max-Hervé George, CEO of Ultima Group, presented the medals and the former President of Mongolia and the President of the Mongolian Judo Association, His Excellency Battulga Kaltmaa, presented the prize money to his compatriots.

“Today I woke up number one,” Tsend-Ochir said. “I came here today to be world champion and I did it.”

The local Uzbek team presented phenomenal judo and every day the crowd was delighted to see their heroes in action. Tomorrow, they still have a few medal hopes a day not to be missed!