Japan claims four gold medals on opening day of Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 19, 2026, 4:22 PM
Last updated Jun 19, 2026
On June 19, Japan achieved a remarkable haul of four gold medals at the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam 2026, a significant event on the IJF World Tour. ABE Uta made history by winning her 12th Grand Slam title, while fellow competitors KOGA Wakana, TAKEOKA Takeshi, and OMORI Akari also secured gold. In the -60kg category, AGHAYEV Balabay triumphed over world champion NAGAYAMA Ryuju to earn the title. The tournament, which serves as a qualifier for the LA Olympic Games, has drawn top judo talent from around the globe, highlighting the event's prestige. The competition continues tomorrow with middle-weight matches scheduled.
- •ABE Uta wins gold in -52kg division, her 12th Grand Slam title.
- •KOGA Wakana secures gold in a closely contested -48kg final.
- •AGHAYEV Balabay claims -60kg gold, defeating NAGAYAMA Ryuju.
- •TAKEOKA Takeshi and OMORI Akari contribute to Japan's gold medal tally.
- •Sukhbat BYAMBASUREN earns bronze, providing a highlight for Mongolia.
- 3:03 PMYahoo Sports — Judo: Home nation strikes gold in Ulaanbaatar
- 4:22 PMYahoo Sports — Judo: Japan dominates Day one in Ulaanbaatar
"Japan claimed four gold medals on the opening day of the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam 2026. ABE Uta made history with a record-breaking 12th Grand Slam title, while KOGA Wakana, TAKEOKA Takeshi and OMORI Akari also struck gold. AGHAYEV Balabay defeated world champion NAGAYAMA Ryuju for -60kg gold.
"The hosts celebrated gold on day two as Ankhzaya Lavjargal thrilled the Mongolian crowd with victory in the -73kg category. World champions Haruka Kaju and Shiho Tanaka added more gold for Japan, while Korea’s Lee Joonhwan impressed with a spectacular ippon to claim the -81kg title.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJun 20, 2026, 3:03 PMJudo: Home nation strikes gold in Ulaanbaatar
The hosts celebrated gold on day two as Ankhzaya Lavjargal thrilled the Mongolian crowd with victory in the -73kg category. World champions Haruka Kaju and Shiho Tanaka added more gold for Japan, while Korea’s Lee Joonhwan impressed with a spectacular ippon to claim the -81kg title.
- Yahoo SportsJun 19, 2026, 4:22 PMJudo: Japan dominates Day one in Ulaanbaatar
Japan claimed four gold medals on the opening day of the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam 2026. ABE Uta made history with a record-breaking 12th Grand Slam title, while KOGA Wakana, TAKEOKA Takeshi and OMORI Akari also struck gold. AGHAYEV Balabay defeated world champion NAGAYAMA Ryuju for -60kg gold.
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