Cuban judoka Orlando Polanco lost today in his opening match on the second day of the individual tournament at the World Judo Championships, which will run through October 10 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

According to the International Judo Federation website, Polanco fell by Ippon via Hansoku-make—receiving three penalties (Shidos)—against China's Ziyang Xu, who had previously defeated Cyprus's Petros Christodoulides in the round of 64 prelims in the 66 kg category.

With this result, Cuba suffered its second defeat in the tournament, following Jonathan Charón's (60 kg) Golden Score loss by Waza-ari to Kazakhstan's Aman Bakytzhan on Sunday, when both competitors held two Shidos apiece.

Nevertheless, Charón earned 20 world ranking points, advancing one of the primary goals for the 622 judokas—335 men and 287 women—from 93 countries registered for the event, including the seven Cuban athletes present in Baku.

Cuba is participating in the world championship with five other judokas, guided by head coaches Julio Alderete for the men's team and Boannys Chang for the women's team.

The remaining Cuban athletes set to compete on the tatami are Iván Felipe Silva (100 kg), Lian Benavides (57 kg), Maylín del Toro (63 kg), Lianet Cardona (78 kg), and Dayanara Curbelo (+78 kg).

Saturday's technical meeting and draw confirmed that two weight divisions will be contested each day, starting with the men's 60 kg and women's 48 kg, until all 14 weight categories across both divisions are completed.

On Tuesday, Benavides will take her turn when she faces Oyunchimeg Oyungerel of the United Arab Emirates.

On Wednesday, Del Toro will open her campaign against Croatia's Nina Simic; on Friday, Silva will face Cyprus's Aristos Michael, while Cardona meets Lithuania's Julia Dudenaite; on Saturday, Curbelo will face France's Romane Ficko to conclude the individual event.

Earning strong results remains crucial, as the world championship awards points toward both the world rankings and the Pan American rankings, the latter specifically for judokas from the Americas.

The Pan American Judo Confederation (CPJ) channel recently updated its continental rankings by division, placing 10 Cubans inside qualification territory and four outside.

Currently in qualification positions are Charón in first place, Polanco (2nd), Silva (4th), Andy Granda (6th in +100 kg), Curbelo (4th in +78 kg), Lianet Cardona (12th in 78 kg), Naysdel Cardoso (14th in 90 kg), Del Toro (13th in 63 kg), Lian Benavides (17th in 57 kg), and Anisleidys Ur López (18th in 70 kg).

Outside qualification spots are Marlon Herrera (26th in 73 kg), Ruben Romero (34th in 81 kg), Yanet Coronado (23rd in 48 kg), and Dali Sentmanat (29th in 52 kg).

Among the Cuban athletes in Baku, Charón holds the highest world ranking position at 19th, followed by Silva (24th), Polanco (33rd), Curbelo (42nd), Del Toro (45th), Cardona (46th), and Benavides (87th).

On October 11, the mixed team tournament will take place, featuring competition in the 73 kg, 90 kg, and +90 kg categories for men, alongside the 57 kg, 70 kg, and +70 kg categories for women.