Russian judoka Arman Adamian celebrates after winning men's under-100kg gold in Doha ©Getty Images

Russian judoka Arman Adamian marked his return to the global stage under a neutral status by capturing the men’s under-100 kilogram title at the World Judo Championships here, while Inbar Lanir struck women’s under-78kg gold for Israel.

After being frozen out of international competition for eight months due to an outright ban on Russian participation over the war in Ukraine, Adamian returned to become world champion for the first time at the Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena in Doha.

His gold medal is the first to be won by one of the 19 judoka competing as individual neutral athletes in the Qatari capital after the International Judo Federation (IJF) allowed Russians and Belarusians to return in time for the World Championships - a move that led Ukraine to boycott the event.

Adamian overcame double Olympic and world champion Lukáš Krpálek of the Czech Republic to capture the title, with victory secured in golden score.

Arman Adamian, who is one of 17 Russian judoka competing as individual neutral athletes in Doha, defeated Lukáš Krpálek of the Czech Republic in the men's under-100kg final ©Getty Images
Arman Adamian, who is one of 17 Russian judoka competing as individual neutral athletes in Doha, defeated Lukáš Krpálek of the Czech Republic in the men's under-100kg final ©Getty Images

Krpálek was unable to assert his authority on the match as he received two shidos in normal time before being issued a third for a false attack.

Adamian took to the podium to receive his gold medal before the IJF anthem was played and the Doha 2023 flag was raised.

Shady El Nahas of Canada suffered a blow to his rib in his semi-final defeat to Adamian and was forced to pull out of competition, handing the bronze medal to Israel's Peter Paltchik.

Azerbaijan's Zelym Kotsoiev also secured a place on the podium after stunning top seed Ilia Sulamanidze of Georgia in their bronze-medal bout.

Sulamanidze was on top in the contest only to be toppled with 32 seconds to go as Kotsoiev produced a brilliant counter-attack to snatch bronze.

Inbar Lanir struck women’s under-78kg gold for Israel with victory over France's Audrey Tcheuméo ©Getty Images
Inbar Lanir struck women’s under-78kg gold for Israel with victory over France's Audrey Tcheuméo ©Getty Images

Paltchik’s medal success came after his compatriot Lanir topped the podium in the women’s under-78kg category.

France's Audrey Tcheuméo, a 2011 world champion, is 10 years older than Lanir but was rattled by the Israeli judoka.

Lanir thought she had won it when she awarded an ippon only for it to be scrubbed off following a review but that did not deter her.

With Tcheuméo struggling with a finger injury, Lanir put the Frenchwoman on her back with a superb throw for an ippon to win her first world title.

Top seed Alice Bellandi of Italy was defeated by Lanir in the semi-finals but bounced back to clinch bronze with victory over reigning Olympic champion Shori Hamada.

Guusje Steenhuis secured her third world medal after beating China's Ma Zhenzhao for bronze.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow with the men’s over-100kg and women’s over-78kg categories set to be contested.