Dushanbe Grand Slam field: 240 entered

Judo is back in Dushanbe, and this stop matters more than the raw entry list might suggest. The 2026 Dushanbe Grand Slam opened on Friday, May 1, with 240 judoka from 34 nations on the official draw, spread across all 14 Olympic weight classes. That is smaller than Paris or Tbilisi, but the field is dense where it counts — Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and a handful of heavyweight judo powers all showed up. (ijf.org) ### Why is 240 a big enough number? Because Grand Slams are not about sheer volume alone. Dushanbe’s field is compact, but it still covers 34 nations and three continental bodies, with 131 athletes from Asia and 108 from Europe. That gives the event a very specific shape — less global sprawl, more direct regional collision betwe(ijf.org)e circuit and at continental championships. (ijf.org) ### Who brought the biggest teams? Tajikistan did, which is exactly what you would expect from a host that has turned this event into a national showcase. The home team entered 40 judoka. Uzbekistan brought 26, Russia 22, Mongolia 17, and China 14. France has only nine athletes here, but that roster still carries real pedigree, (ijf.org)line number suggests. (ijf.org) ### Which names matter most? For Tajikistan, the local focus is on Emomali Nourali and Obid Jebov at 66 kg, Muhiddin Asadulloyev at 73 kg, and Somon Mahmadbekov at 81 kg. France’s group includes Amandine Buchard, Sarah-Léonie Cysique, Marie-Ève Gahié, Audrey Tcheuméo, Romane Dicko, Walide Khyar, and Joan-Benjamin (ijf.org)60 kg, plus a deep lineup across the men’s weights. (asiaplus.news) ### What does the schedule look like? The event runs May 1 to May 3 in Dushanbe. Day 1 covers men’s 60 kg and 66 kg, plus women’s 48 kg, 52 kg, and 57 kg. Day 2 shifts to men’s 73 kg and 81 kg, with women’s 63 kg and 70 kg. Day 3 closes with men’s 90 kg, 100 kg, and +100 kg, plus women’s 78 kg and +78 kg. Finals blocks are set for 17:00 each day. (ijf.org) ### Why does this stop matter on the tour? Because Dushanbe is no longer a side stop. The city’s Grand Prix was upgraded to Grand Slam status in 2024, and the IJF has kept building around it. On April 30, the federation also confirmed Dushanbe will host the 2026 World Judo Masters in December. Basically, this city has moved from(ijf.org)chor hosts. (ijf.org) ### Is the field stronger than it first looks? Yes — because the event sits right after a busy stretch of continental competition and right before Astana on May 8 to 10. That timing pulls in athletes who are already in form and already traveling, especially from nearby federations. The catch is (ijf.org)but stylistically it may be tougher round to round because so much of the bracket is packed with hardened regional contenders. That last part is an inference from the entry distribution and nearby calendar, but it fits the draw. (ijf.org) ### So what is the real story here? The story is not just that Dushanbe has 240 entries. It is that Tajikistan has built a Grand Slam that now reliably pulls serious regional depth, gives the host nation a huge platform, and keeps climbing inside the IJF calendar. For a three-day event in early May, that is a strong sign of where the sport’s center of gravity is shifting. (ijf.org)