Azerbaijan judokas to compete in Budapest Grand Slam

Sixteen judokas from Azerbaijan will compete in the Budapest Grand Slam tournament held in Hungary from September 11 to 13, 2026. The event is part of the International Judo Federation calendar and serves as a qualifying competition for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.

The Azerbaijani delegation consists of 12 men and 4 women competing across 11 weight categories. Following the draw ceremony, the initial opponents for the Azerbaijani athletes have been determined. Notable matchups include Hidayet Heydarov in the -81 kg category against Benedek Tot of Hungary, and Murad Muradli in the -60 kg category against Vahe Aghasyan of Armenia.

The tournament is expected to feature over 500 athletes from 67 countries. The competition will be broadcast live on Judo TV and CBC Sport.