PARIS,— UAE judoka Mohammed Yazbek (Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov) won the gold medal in the under-73 kilogram judo category at the Paris Grand Slam, the opening event of the International Judo Federation’s 2026 calendar, the Emirates News Agency reported.
The tournament began on Saturday at the Accor Arena in Bercy, Paris, with 488 top-ranked male and female judokas representing 78 countries.
Yazbek advanced through the early rounds with wins over Ukraine’s Said Khaldoov and Britain’s Irakli Goginashvili.
He then defeated Moldova’s Adil Osmanov, who won a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, Yazbek beat France’s Paul Mathieu, earning a spot in the final. He claimed the gold with a decisive victory against Italy’s Manuel Lombardo.
Mohammed bin Thaaloob Al Dere’i, president of the UAE Judo Federation, said that the achievement reflects the support and guidance of the country’s leadership.
He highlighted that the government’s focus on youth and sports development has improved performance at international competitions, allowing young athletes to represent the UAE in major events and carry the UAE flag proudly on the world stage.
The victory adds to the UAE’s growing presence in international judo competitions and strengthens its record in the sport.
(With files from WAM)
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