Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko gave the UAE a gold medal finish at the 2026 Dushanbe Grand Slam, winning the women’s -78kg title in Tajikistan.
The UAE judoka beat Yael van Heemst of the Netherlands in the final at Kasri Tennis Arena, where the IJF World Tour event ran from May 1 to 3.
It was Lytvynenko’s 10th World Judo Tour medal and helped the UAE national team finish sixth in the overall tournament standings.
More than 240 judoka from 34 countries competed in Dushanbe, making the result another strong showing for the UAE on the international judo circuit.
Mohammed bin Thaaloob Al Derie, President of the UAE Judo Federation, congratulated Lytvynenko after the win and credited the country’s wider support for youth and sport.
Lytvynenko had been in control through her bouts, according to WAM, before closing the tournament with victory over Van Heemst in the final.
The result adds to the UAE’s recent progress in judo, with national team athletes continuing to collect medals at World Tour level.
The Dushanbe Grand Slam formed part of the International Judo Federation World Tour.
