Khazar Haydarov wins Ukraine’s first gold at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics
Seventeen-year-old Ukrainian judoka Khazar Haydarov won gold in the under-66 kg category at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. He defeated Canada’s Aness Mathi in extra time to earn Ukraine’s first medal of the Games and its first Olympic gold in judo.
Key points
- Khazar Haydarov won gold in the under-66 kg judo category in Dakar.
- Haydarov defeated Canada’s Aness Mathi in the final in extra time.
- His opponent received three shido penalties, which gave Haydarov the deciding points.
- He also defeated Matar Diop of Senegal in the quarterfinal and Nimrod Mildner of Hungary in the semifinal.
- The medal was Ukraine’s first at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and its first Olympic judo gold.
- The 17-year-old Haydarov represented Kharkiv and carried Ukraine’s flag at the opening ceremony.
- The Dakar Games run from October 31 to November 13, 2026.
Why it matters
Haydarov’s victory opened Ukraine’s medal account at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. It was also the first Olympic gold medal won by Ukraine in judo at a Youth Olympic Games.
What happened
Khazar Haydarov won the under-66 kg judo title at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. The 17-year-old Ukrainian judoka advanced by defeating Senegal’s Matar Diop in the quarterfinal and Hungary’s Nimrod Mildner in the semifinal. He then faced Canada’s Aness Mathi in the final. The contest was decided in extra time after Mathi received three shido penalties, giving Haydarov the points needed for victory. His gold was Ukraine’s first medal at the Games.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reports emphasize the historic nature of the result, describing it as Ukraine’s first gold at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and its first Olympic judo gold. They also highlight Haydarov’s age, Kharkiv affiliation, role as Ukraine’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony, and his path to the title.
Background
Ukraine’s delegation in Dakar includes 38 athletes — 11 boys and 27 girls — and competes in 14 of the 35 sports on the program. Before Haydarov’s victory, Ukrainian judokas had won only silver and bronze medals at previous Youth Olympic Games: two bronzes in 2010, one silver in 2014 and one bronze in 2018.