By Ercan Dogan

ISTANBUL

A Turkish athlete won the bronze medal at the 2018 World Judo Championships in Azerbaijan's capital Baku on Sunday.

Vedat Albayrak bested his Polish opponent Damian Szwarnowiecki in the Men's Repechage - 81 kg category.

The last time a Turkish competitor won a medal was 2003, when Nese Sensoy, competing in the women's extra-lightweight category, brought home a bronze from the World Judo Championships in Osaka, Japan.

The Baku competition -- which features 756 judoka from 124 countries -- started on Sept. 20 and will continue through Wednesday.