After a successful 2026 World Judo Championship, the IJF flag was passed over from the President of the host nation delegation to his Kazakh counterpart ahead of the forthcoming event, set for 7-14 June next year.
Receiving the flag in a ceremony at the close of this year’s event in Baku, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan Judo Federation President Kuanyshbek Yessekeev now has the overall responsibility of preparing for the 2027 Judo World Championship.
As a former judo champion myself, it is evident that excitement is already building (mine, at least). This will not be the first time that Kazakhstan has hosted the annual event, as 2015 saw the best judoka come to the country and win a total of 64 medals, Yeldos Smetov being the only Kazakh champion at the Alau Ice Palace that time.
The same judoka, fresh from a recent Asian Games silver, is hoped to be a part of a strong Kazakh contingent fighting for medals in 2027 and an event which Kuanyshbek Yessekeev believes to be a clean ippon for the country.
“Hosting the World Judo Championships is a major milestone for Kazakh sports and a sign of the international sporting community’s confidence in our country. It is both a great honour and a serious responsibility. Our goal is to ensure that the championships are held to the highest organisational standards and meet all the requirements of the International Judo Federation.”
At the end of the championships in Baku, the flag was ceremoniously lowered by military personnel before being handed to Azerbaijan Judo Federation Vice President Mr Elnur Mammadli, who in turn gave it to IJF Secretary General Dr Lisa Allan.
Her handing it over to the Kazakhstani representative is a further mark of respect and recognition of the role that Kazakhstan has played in the development of world judo, and once more it will host the biggest annual tournament in the sport, with medallists ever keen to do well and pick up points for Olympic qualification for Los Angeles 2028.
