The Cuban judo team concluded their participation in the individual events of the 2026 Baku World Championships this Saturday without winning any medals. This marks the third consecutive world championship where the island's delegation has failed to reach the podium.
Dayanara Curbelo was the last Cuban competitor, participating in the over 78 kg category. She was defeated in the round of 32 by French judoka Romane Ficko, who is ranked third in the world. Ficko is a former world champion from Tashkent 2022 and has earned two Olympic bronze medals in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
Ranked 42nd by the International Judo Federation (IJF), Curbelo was outclassed by an ippon—receiving three penalties culminating in a hansoku-make—while also conceding a waza-ari, leaving her unable to challenge the dominant French favorite.
Iván Felipe Silva delivered the best performance for the Cuban delegation in the 100 kg category, securing two wins before being eliminated in the round of 16, which placed him ninth overall and earned him 320 points for the world ranking.
However, the result is bittersweet: Silva previously won silver at the 2018 Baku World Championships in the 90 kg category. Returning to the same venue eight years later without a podium finish underscores the decline of the Cuban team.
The other seven Cuban judokas—Jonathan Charón (60 kg), Orlando Polanco (66 kg), Lian Benavides (57 kg), Maylín del Toro (63 kg), and Lianet Cardona (78 kg)—all lost their first matches, resulting in a disappointing tally of two victories and seven defeats in nine individual contests.
The delegation, led by Julio Alderete for the men and Boannys Chang for the women, competed in an event featuring 622 judokas from 93 countries, with 335 men and 287 women participating.
This outcome extends a worrying trend for Cuban judo: the island also failed to medal at the Budapest 2025 World Championships and the Doha 2023 World Championships, a drought that contrasts sharply with their storied history of 16 golds, 20 silvers, and 33 bronzes in world championships, placing them sixth historically by nations according to the IJF.
At the end of the individual tournament, Japan led the medal count with seven golds, two silvers, and three bronzes, followed by Georgia, Spain, Azerbaijan, and the United Arab Emirates.
On a more positive note, ten Cuban judokas remain within the qualifying range in the Pan American ranking, with Charón leading in first place and Polanco in second, keeping the team’s future competitive hopes alive.
Cuba will have one last chance to salvage the competition this Sunday with the mixed team event, featuring matches in the men's 73, 90, and over 90 kg divisions, and the women's 57, 70, and over 70 kg categories.
FAQs About Cuban Judo Team's Performance at Baku World Championships
Who was the last Cuban judoka to compete at the Baku World Championships?
Dayanara Curbelo was the last Cuban judoka to compete, participating in the over 78 kg category.
How did Iván Felipe Silva perform at the World Championships?
Iván Felipe Silva achieved the best result for Cuba by reaching the round of 16 in the 100 kg category, finishing ninth overall.
What is the historical significance of Cuba's performance in judo world championships?
Cuba has a storied history in judo world championships, with a total of 16 golds, 20 silvers, and 33 bronzes, ranking sixth globally by nations according to the IJF.