The French judo team had a day without any podium finishes at the World Judo Championships in Baku on Monday. Two French athletes, Kelvin Ray and Daikii Bouba, were eliminated in the second round of the -66 kg category. Kelvin Ray, who was chosen at the last minute after another athlete withdrew, faced Hifumi Abe, a double Olympic champion and quadruple world champion, in the round of 16. Despite being a replacement and having only a week of preparation, Ray fought hard but ultimately lost to Abe in a penalty score during the extension. "The draw did not scare me at all," Ray said, expressing his disappointment but also his determination to succeed in the future. Daikii Bouba, the other French competitor on Monday, was also eliminated in the same stage by Denis Vieru from Moldova, an Olympic and world medalist. Bouba, the 2025 European champion, lost by a yuko after a close match that he could not turn in his favor. Both Ray and Bouba were the only French athletes competing on Monday, as the team decided not to select any competitors in the -52 kg category. After two days of competition, the French team still holds one medal—bronze, which was won by Shirine Boukli in the -48 kg category on Sunday. Hifumi Abe secured his fifth world title at the end of the day, defeating David Garcia Torne of Spain in the final. His sister, Uta Abe, also won gold in the -52 kg category, marking her sixth world title. The two siblings achieved the doubles at the World Championships for the fourth time. On Tuesday, the French team will have new opportunities with Joan-Benjamin Gaba, the reigning champion in the -73 kg category, and the young Dayyan Boulemtafes, who won an European medal last April. On the women's side, Sarah-Léonie Cysique, who won her first world medal last year, will compete in the -57 kg category.