Arman Adamian defeats Azerbaijan's Olympic champion at World Judo Championships in Baku
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
Armenian-born judoka Arman Adamian, representing Russia, has claimed a major victory at the 2026 World Judo Championships in Baku.
Competing in the men's under-100 kg category, the 29-year-old faced Azerbaijan's Zelym Kotsoiev, the reigning Olympic champion from Paris 2024, in the round of 16.
The closely contested bout remained undecided after regulation time and went into Golden Score. During the extra period, Adamian secured a decisive yuko to defeat the Olympic gold medalist.
As a result, Kotsoiev was eliminated from the World Championships on home soil in the round of 16.
Following his victory over the Olympic champion, Adamian continued his impressive run in Baku. In the quarterfinals, the Armenian judoka defeated an opponent from Uzbekistan to advance to the semifinals of the World Championships.
Adamian is also a former world champion, having won gold in the under-100 kg category at the 2023 World Judo Championships in Doha.
Another judoka of Armenian descent, Narek Vardanyan, representing Sweden, also competed at the tournament in Baku. In the under-73 kg category, Vardanyan defeated a Turkish opponent but was eventually eliminated in the round of 16.