UAE surprises with three gold medals at African Open Casablanca

The first African Open of 2025 in Casablanca marked an exciting start to the international judo calendar, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) making headlines by topping the medal table. This surprising result highlighted the growing ambition of Arab nations to establish themselves as competitive forces in judo, with many countries aiming to identify potential Olympic athletes for Los Angeles 2028. The UAE, which has built a solid reputation in the sport, benefited from athletes with Russian roots, particularly from Chechnya, to achieve their success. Host nation Morocco also delivered an impressive performance, collecting 12 medals, while India, another rising nation in international judo, managed to secure three podium finishes.

In the men’s -60kg category, the gold medal went to Morocco’s Ahmed Alaoui Cherifi, delighting the home crowd. Kantemir Aripshev, representing the International Judo Federation (IJF), took silver, while Angola’s Leonardo Barros and Kuwait’s Meshal Alali shared bronze. The -66kg division saw UAE’s Kazbek Naguchev dominate to win gold, defeating Morocco’s Moubarak Abou Alfida Boulaich in the final. Naguchev is the former Russian European and World Champion as cadet U18 years in his glory year 2017. In 2020 he won the Junior European title already in this U66kg class. Bronze medals were awarded to his former teammate Kantemir Zambatov and France’s Vincent Sorgiati. 

The -73kg title was claimed by UAE’s Karim Abdulaev, who showcased his skill by defeating Morocco’s Hassan Doukkali in the final. Morocco also picked up two bronze medals in this category through Nouh Lahmouri and Niels Thijssen of the Netherlands. In the -81kg division, Taulan Baisiev (IJF) won gold, beating Inno Loeber from the Netherlands, while Claudio Nunes Dos Santos from Luxembourg and Morocco’s Amine Yassif took bronze. 
The -90kg category saw another gold for the UAE, with Ibragimgadzhi Suleimanov emerging victorious against Russian Astemir Abazov. Tunisia’s Yassine Kouraichi and Abdelaziz Ben Ammar claimed the bronze medals. France’s Romeo Leveque secured the top spot in the -100kg class, defeating Morocco’s Haytam Benyahia. Cameroon’s Franck Ulrick Tahman Zan and the Netherlands’ Axel Heeren shared the bronze medals. Finally, in the +100kg division, Wahib Hdiouech of Tunisia clinched the gold medal, beating Guinea’s Moustapha Fofana in the final. Bronze went to France’s Sami Ramdani and Tunisia’s Adem Kouki.
In the women’s competition, India made an early impact with Asmita Dey claiming gold in the -48kg division, defeating Morocco’s Aziza Chakir. Morocco also secured two bronze medals through Nohade Riadi and Lok Yi Ho of Hong Kong. Cameroon’s Marie Celine Baba Matia topped the podium in the -52kg category, overcoming Morocco’s Soumiya Iraoui, while Hong Kong's Shuk Ki Tsui and India’s Shraddha Kadubal Chopade shared bronze. 
Morocco earned gold in the -57kg division as Andreza Antonio of Angola delivered a stellar performance to defeat Nok Lam Yeung of Hong Kong. The bronze medals were split between Lea Wyss and Chaima Sidaoui. In the -63kg category, India celebrated another gold as Himanshi Tokas triumphed over France’s Priscilla Gneto in the final, a big win for the Indian athlete against the former Olympic medallist of 2012. Luxembourg’s Anetta Mosr and Tunisia’s Maram Jmour completed the podium. 
Germany’s Tayla Grauer claimed gold in the -70kg division, defeating IJF’s Daria Antonova. Bronze medals went to Cameroon’s Zita Ornella Biami and Lithuania’s Ugne Pileckaite. IJF’s Kristina Konovalova dominated the -78kg category, earning gold against Morocco’s Fatima Zohra Chakir. Morocco’s Jihane El Houmate and Tunisia’s Arij Akkab shared bronze. The women’s +78kg category saw Richelle Anita Soppi Mbella from Cameroon take gold, defeating Angola’s Crislayn Rodrigues. Angola also earned bronze through Fernanda Quimbira.
The African Open in Casablanca demonstrated the competitive diversity of the tournament, with emerging nations like UAE and India proving they are ready to challenge established judo powers. Host nation Morocco’s strong performance further highlighted their commitment to judo as they prepare to support athletes on the path to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games