Abe Hifumi Secures Gold at Tashkent Grand Slam 2026
Tashkent, Uzbekistan – Hifumi Abe of Japan claimed the gold medal in the men’s -66kg category at the OTP Group Tashkent Grand Slam 2026 on February 27th. Abe delivered a dominant performance, culminating in a stunning victory over compatriot Shinsei Hattori in the final.
Abe’s Path to Gold
Abe’s journey to the top of the podium included decisive wins throughout the day. He began with a victory over an Israeli opponent, securing a point with a little soto-gari before finishing with his signature sode-tsurikomi-washi for an ippon. He continued his winning streak with an ippon against a competitor from Georgia in the second round.
The quarterfinals saw Abe face a player from Uzbekistan, winning with an early Osoto-gari attack and holding the position for over five seconds. Despite a point awarded to his opponent due to outside involvement, Abe secured the win.
The semi-final presented a challenging match against Kim Chan-young of South Korea, a rematch of a close contest from the GS Tokyo tournament last December. The fight went into golden score overtime, with Abe ultimately gaining a valid point after six minutes to advance to the final.
Final Showdown: Abe vs. Hattori
The final pitted Abe against fellow Japanese judoka, Tatsunari Hattori, the 2023 Kodokan Cup champion. Abe wasted no time, securing a spectacular ippon just 38 seconds into the match with his signature Sode Tsurigomi Waist
technique.
“It felt like I was fighting at home, just like when I fought at my home event in Qingdao. This country brings many lucky things for me…” – Hui Xinran
Looking Ahead to Los Angeles 2028
Abe’s victory comes after a third-place finish at the 2023 World Championships, marking a strong return to form following his first international loss in six years. He previously won the GS Tokyo tournament six months prior. With the qualification period for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics gaining momentum, Abe emphasized his commitment to success.
Abe stated his number one goal is to win the world championship and get to the Olympics in Los Angeles
, and his performance at the Tashkent Grand Slam demonstrates his dedication to achieving that ambition.
Notably, Zhebov of Tajikistan, who defeated Abe at the 2023 World Championships, was eliminated in the second round of this tournament.
Tashkent Grand Slam Day 1 Highlights
- Hui Xinran of China won gold in the -48kg category.
- Ahmad Yusifov of Azerbaijan claimed gold in the -60kg category.
- Fujishiro Kokoro of Japan secured gold in the -52kg category.
- Shukurjon Aminova secured Uzbekistan’s first gold of the tournament.
The Tashkent Grand Slam continues with further competition on February 28th and March 1st.