BUDAPEST: Japan’s Ryuju Nagayama won his first world title on Friday in the men’s -60kg at the world judo championships as Italy’s Assunta Scutto won the women’s -48kg title.

After winning his first bout on penalties, Naga­yama — a bronze medallist at last year’s Paris Oly­mpics — was then imperious for the rest of the day.

In the final against promising Frenchman Romain Valadier-Picard, the 29-year-old Japanese judoka stepped up a notch in the second half of the bout to win by ippon.

Ten years after his junior title, Nagayama finally reached the top step of a world championship podium after finishing third twice.

In the women’s category, Scutto defeated Azerbaijan’s Abiba Abuzhakynova in the final.

Last year’s world silver medallist and a bronze medallist the previous two years, the 23-year-old judoka completes her collection with world gold.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2025