After five days of individual judo competition, records, milestones, and history-making moments at the Abu Dhabi World Judo Championships 2024, the spotlight shifts to the most anticipated session of the entire event: the mixed team competition.
What Is the Mixed Team Event?
The mixed team format fields three women and three men from each nation, competing across six weight categories against their counterparts on the opposing side. Women contest at -57kg, -70kg, and +70kg; men compete at -73kg, -90kg, and +90kg.
The first team to win a majority of the six bouts is declared the match winner, with the remaining contests left unfought. If both teams reach three wins apiece, one weight category is re-drawn and those competitors fight again under golden score rules — sudden death — to determine the victor.
Why the Mixed Team Event Matters
The mixed team event has been a transformative addition to elite judo. Its format has compelled nations that were once focused almost entirely on male competitors to invest seriously in their women's programs in order to remain competitive at the world and Olympic level. The result is a contest that regularly delivers the most dramatic and emotionally charged judo imaginable — driven by the energy of team atmosphere and national pride.
The Top Seeds at Abu Dhabi 2024
Thirteen nations entered the mixed team competition at Mubadala Arena, Abu Dhabi. The four top-seeded teams are:
Japan — The defending champions and the only team to have won every edition of the event since its inception. With three newly crowned world champions and multiple world medallists in their ranks, Japan arrive in Abu Dhabi as strong favourites once again.
France — The closest challengers. France have contested the mixed team final in every edition except the inaugural 2017 championship, establishing themselves as the world's second-best mixed team. However, a below-par set of performances in the individual competitions means their route to the final this year is far from straightforward.
Georgia — Earned silver at the 2023 World Championships and have bronze from the same year. Georgia represent a growing judo power and are capable of upsetting any team on their day.
Brazil — The only other nation besides France to have appeared in a mixed team world championship final. Brazil's depth across all six weight categories makes them a genuine contender.
What to Watch
With Japan's unbeaten record on the line and France eager to break through, the semi-finals and final at Mubadala Arena are set to produce the high-stakes, high-emotion judo that has made this event a fan favourite since its introduction. Italy also make a historic first appearance in the competition — a milestone for the sport's development in the country.
