Harsh Singh Reached Round of 16 at Judo Worlds
The 23-year-old athlete advanced to the pre-quarter-finals before falling to world number five Ahmad Yusifov.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Wrestling
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Harsh Singh concluded his run at the 2026 World Judo Championships in Baku after reaching the round of 16. The 23-year-old, ranked 83rd in the world, was defeated by fifth-ranked Ahmad Yusifov in the pre-quarter-final match.
Why it matters
The tournament appearance marks a notable step for Singh, who entered the competition as a long-shot underdog. His performance follows his recent gold medal win in the men's 60kg event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Singh secured Waza-ari victories over opponents ranked 40th and 18th in the world before facing Yusifov. The eventual defeat by Ippon ended his participation in the men's 60kg bracket.
The players
Harsh Singh
He is a 23-year-old judoka who recently won gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Ahmad Yusifov
He is a 27-year-old athlete ranked 5th in the world who advanced to the tournament final.
Sherzod Davlatov
He is the athlete scheduled to face Yusifov in the final match of the tournament.
The details
Singh overcame Pedro Carlos Antun Neto and Ruslan Poltoratskii in his initial bouts to secure his spot in the round of 16. His progression was halted by 27-year-old Ahmad Yusifov, who demonstrated superior control to finish the match by Ippon.
Timeline
The 2026 World Judo Championships took place in Baku during 2026.
The Commonwealth Games were held in Glasgow in 2026.
Season Trajectory
This performance reinforces Singh's emergence as a competitive force following his Commonwealth Games victory. His ability to topple higher-ranked opponents in Baku signals a shift in his trajectory within the international rankings.
Singh's round of 16 finish moves him closer to higher-tier seeding in future international brackets. His defeat by Ippon against a top-five opponent highlights the difficulty of ascending the world rankings in the 60kg category.
The takeaway
Singh's run confirms that his recent Commonwealth Games gold was not a fluke but part of a rising career arc. His losses to top-ranked fighters provide a clear benchmark for the technical improvements needed to reach the podium at future world championships.
What happens next
Ahmad Yusifov is scheduled to compete against Sherzod Davlatov in the championship final.
Further reading
For more updates from the tournament, see our Wrestling coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Khel Now.
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