2018 World Judo Championships begin in Baku: Judo’s youngest ever world champion crowned

A thrilling first day of the 2018 World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, marked
the second World Championships of the new Olympic cycle towards Tokyo 2020.
The star of the show was 17-year-old Ukrainian judoka Daria Bilodid. Brilliant judo throughout the day culminated in her overcoming
reigning Olympic Champion Paula Pareto of Argentina to reach her first World final.
YOUNGEST-EVER WORLD CHAMPION
There Bilodid took on the defending world champion Funa Tonaki of Japan in a dream match-up, and her signature technique proved to hot too handle.Bilodod was overcome with emotion, as both her and her mother, who is also her coach, realised she had just become Judo’s youngest ever world champion.

It was a superb moment of skill and timing, more than worthy of winning a world title. A moment that she and the sport of judo will never forget, and what an incredible experience to share alongside her mother.
“I can’t believe this, no words needed, I am very happy," said Daria Bilodid. "For me it was a very important fight. And very big pressure from Tonaki because she lost to me twice and I knew that she really wanted to win, she worked for it, so for me it was really big pressure. I am so glad that I could do it," she said.
IJF Ambassador Al Bano awarded Bilodid her gold medal.
Pareto bounced back from her defeat to Bilodid to secure the bronze medal in spectacular fashion, with an incredible performance from the veteran champion.
THIRD WORLD TITLE FOR NAOHISA TAKATO
In the men’s -60kg division, there was an incredible third world title for the brilliant Naohisa Takato of Japan. His final against Russia’s Robert Mshvidobadze was decided by a brilliant piece of footwork, scoring waza ari!