Abu Dhabi:The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2026 judo tournament commenced on Thursday evening at the Mubadala Arena under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region. The opening day featured lightweight competitions and drew the presence of key figures including Mohammed bin Thaloub Al Derie, President of the UAE Judo Federation and Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, and International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer, along with delegation heads and federation board members.

According to Wam, the tournament is set to continue on Friday with preliminary rounds and finals in the middleweight categories, welcoming judokas from various countries. UAE competitors are poised to take on international opponents in the women's under-63kg and men's under-73kg and under-81kg categories.

Additionally, UAE judoka Talal Shafili has announced his retirement from international competition. Shafili's career highlights include winning bronze medals at the 2024 Tbilisi Grand Slam and the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, as well as participating in numerous regional and international tournaments. Mohammed bin Thaloub Al Derie commended Shafili's accomplishments and expressed intentions to integrate his expertise into the senior national team's coaching staff.