The best male judoka of the IJF World Ranking in 2016

Three athletes of Azerbaijan dominate the last World Ranking of the year for men. In total four Europeans including Teddy Riner confirm that European is the most leading continent. Japan’s World Champions Nagase and Baker represent Asia as leader as well as An Ba-Ul of Korea. Teddy Riner is Leading the World Ranking since the start in 2009.

Orkhan Safarov is one of the three Azeri leading the World Ranking. He won the World Masters and took silver at the European Championships.

Korean An Ba-Ul won the Masters and Düsseldorf but was caught by surprise in Rio by Fabio Basile, now the world number three. An earned $10,500 prize money in 2016, more than any other world leader in the men’s division.

Rustam Orujov is the second Azeri, he only couldn’t stop Shohei Ono for gold in Rio. He won the European title and GP Havana this year and was in the final in Düsseldorf, Abu Dhabi and of course Rio. He continues his world leading spot.

World Champion Takanori Nagase is still world leading. He took bronze in Rio and won the Grand Slam in Tokyo in December as well as the Grand Slam in Baku. Those victories delivered him $10,000 IJF Prize money and the world leading position.

Mashu Baker was the second youngest Olympic champion after Basile. Baker won the World Masters and the Olympic title, more than enough to take the lead in the World ranking.

Elmar Gasimov is the third Azeri who was successful in Rio winning silver in the final against Lukas Krpalek. He came in shape at the World Masters where he won gold, well peaked this year and he continued his lead in the so called IJF Prestige Ranking.

Teddy Riner is undefeated since 2010, he won all his three tournaments this year in Samsun, Europeans in Kazan and Rio Olympics. He is the sports icon in judo, for France and for all young fans all around the world. “Teddy” is the world’s most successful judoka ever. His next goal is to reach Nomura status, the triple.