The Amman Asian Open 2025 concluded on 19 August at Princess Sumaya Hall in Amman, Jordan, after two days of intense competition that brought together 147 judoka from 18 nations across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Organized by the Judo Union of Asia with the support of the Jordan Judo Federation, the event offered athletes crucial international ranking points and reflected the growing diversity of the sport across the continent and beyond.

Competitors from 15 nations reached the podium, underlining the depth of talent on display. The tournament was notable for its attacking spirit, with more than 80 percent of contests decided by ippon. Egypt emerged as the dominant nation, collecting five gold and six silver medals, led by strong performances from Noura Salem in the -48kg division, Tassnim Roshdy at -57kg, and Fatma Ghanem at -63kg. Bahrain followed closely with five golds of its own, secured through the efforts of Ruslan Poltoratskii (-60kg), Mukhamed Aloev (-73kg), Israpil Sagaipov (-90kg), Said Sadrudinov (-100kg), and Azamat Chotchaev (+100kg).

Other nations also left their mark. Saudi Arabia underlined its progress in women’s judo, with Hessah AlMelaiki and Reema Alsudayri both stepping onto the podium as the Kingdom finished with 11 medals overall. Host nation Jordan impressed its home crowd by taking 18 medals, including a bronze for Azeeza AlKhatib in the +78kg category and another for Roa’a Aljazazi in the -52kg division.

Amman Asian Open 2025

Perhaps the most significant moment of the competition came from Pakistan. Twenty-year-old Malaika Noor became the first Pakistani woman ever to reach the final of an Asian-level judo event. Competing in the -52kg category, she defeated Jordan’s Raneem Aljazazi in the semi-final before falling just short in the final to claim a silver medal. Her achievement was celebrated by the Pakistan Judo Federation as a milestone in the country’s sporting history. Federation president Col. Junaid Alam described her success as a breakthrough for women’s sport in Pakistan.

Noor was not the only Pakistani judoka to shine. Eighteen-year-old Noor Khan made an impressive international debut in the -60kg category, winning his opening contest against Jordan’s Mohammad Almashaqbeh by ippon before being eliminated in the quarter-finals. In the -73kg division, Muhammad Abbas Khalil also showed his promise with a confident first-round victory, although his campaign ended in the last eight.

In parallel with the competition, Amman also hosted the IJF Continental and International Referee Examination from 15 to 19 August. The course brought together 50 referee candidates from across Asia and beyond, underscoring the region’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of officiating in the sport. The initiative, supported by the JUA and the Jordan Judo Federation, highlighted the city’s growing role as a hub for judo development in both competition and education.

The Judo Union of Asia praised the Jordan Judo Federation and its volunteers for delivering a successful week of activities and congratulated all athletes and officials for their contributions. With established champions, new talents, and a historic first for Pakistan, the Amman Asian Open 2025 confirmed Asia’s growing influence on the global judo stage.