BAKU - Japan's Wakana Koga won the women's 48-kilogram title, while compatriot Ryuju Nagayama took the men's 60-kg bronze as the judo world championships opened Sunday in Baku.
Contesting her fifth world championship, Koga claimed her first world title with an ippon victory over the reigning champion, Italy's Assunta Scutto, in the final in the Azerbaijan capital.
"This is the first time I've felt like crying after winning," Koga said. "I was thinking only about winning. I didn't have any anxiety or doubts."
With her victory, the 25-year-old has surged ahead in the race to represent Japan at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
"This is just the start. I hope to keep winning and build on this momentum," she said.
Nagayama's world title defense ended with a semifinal loss to Kazakhstan's Sherzod Davlatov. The Paris Olympic bronze medalist went on to defeat Russia's Ayub Bliev in a bronze medal playoff.
Azerbaijan's Ahmad Yusifov won the 60-kg gold in front of his home crowd.
The 30-year-old Nagayama, who struggled with cramping in his calves during the semifinal, said he would "have to make some changes" to his preparation as he bids for an Olympic berth.
"I need to learn more about conditioning and be more precise with it," he said.
