Ukrainian judoka Anton Savitsky, 31, has won the bronze medal at the Grand Slam tournament in Abu Dhabi (UAE). In the under-100 kg weight category, the athlete fought his way into the medal bout and finished the competition on the third step of the podium. For Savitsky, this award is his debut bronze at tournaments of this level, highlighting the steady growth of his form on the international arena. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA with reference to the Judo Federation of Ukraine.
Path to the Podium: Key Bouts in Abu Dhabi
Savitsky's performance in Abu Dhabi took place on the final day of the tournament, October 31. On the way to the semifinals, the Ukrainian secured a number of confident victories, including over Lazar Zdralic of Serbia and Nika Kharazi of Georgia. In the semifinals, Savitsky lost, but according to Grand Slam regulations, those who are defeated at this stage automatically receive bronze medals. Thus, the defeat in the semifinals did not prevent the athlete from returning home with an award.
Tournament Results: Diesse Stronger Than Katarina
The winner of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in the under-100 kg category was Aurelien Diesse of France. In the final match, he defeated the tournament's top seed, Simeon Katarina of the Netherlands, securing the victory in extra time. Thus, in the medal standings of the tournament, the Ukrainian judoka took third position, yielding only to the finalists.
A Productive Season: From Paris to Baku
The bronze in Abu Dhabi was a logical continuation of Savitsky's productive season on the international arena. In February 2026, the Ukrainian won a silver medal at the Grand Slam in Paris, and in March he became the winner of the Grand Prix in Upper Austria. At the 2026 World Championships in Baku, the judoka stopped a step away from the medal bouts, taking seventh place. At the same time, back in 2025, Savitsky won Grand Slam tournaments in Tbilisi and Ulan-Bator, which indicates his stable competitiveness in the elite division.
World Ranking and Future Outlook
As of October 31, 2026, Anton Savitsky occupies the eighth position in the International Judo Federation (IJF) world ranking in the under-100 kg weight category. The bronze medal in Abu Dhabi will allow him to maintain and likely strengthen his position in the top 10. Earlier, the head of the Judo Federation of Ukraine Koshlyak named the names of judokas from whom success is expected at the 2028 Olympic Games, and Savitsky is among the key candidates for medals in the upcoming Olympic cycle.
