The second and final day of the Grand Prix unfolded as follows…
J2W +70 kg
Host country Brazil enjoyed a home nation derby to round out the contests in a fiercely contested category. Rebeca Silva (BRA), the current Paralympic champion, defeated Sheyla Samarian Hernandez Estupinan (CUB) in their semi-final while Meg Emmerich (BRA) saw off a challenge from Great Britain’s Kirsten Taylor in hers.
At the halfway point Silva led by a single yuko but Emmerich saw no reason to accept defeat and piled on the pressure. Silva struggled to place her techniques, dropping the grip and finding no finish while Emmerich continued to chase the equaliser. It wasn’t enough though as with 30 seconds remaining, Silva found a new gear and switched her technical work to the rear, throwing for ippon with o-uchi-gari.
GOLD Rebeca Silva (BRA)
SILVER Meg Emmerich (BRA)
BRONZE Kirsten Taylor (GBR)
BRONZE Sheyla Samarian Hernandez Estupinan (CUB)
J1W -60 kg
This category, fought in a round robin system, was dominated by the host team. Brazilian judoka Larissa Silva and Karoline Duarte saw off all others on the way to the top two steps of the podium. Great Britain’s Evie Gormley, a competitor improving with every outing, took the sole bronze medal.
GOLD Larissa Silva (BRA)
SILVER Karoline Duarte (BRA)
BRONZE Evie D Gormley (GBR)
J1W -70 kg
This category was fought using the round robin system, all competitors having to fight the rest, round by round. Brazil found themselves on the top of yet another podium, thanks to Brenda Souza De Freitas.
GOLD Brenda Souza De Freitas (BRA)
SILVER Theodora Paschalidou (GRE)
BRONZE Ariagna De La Caridad Hechevarria Castro (CUB)
J1M -95 kg
Brazil’s very own number one seed Arthur Cavalcante da Silva did not disappoint his crowd, reaching the final in style to face Phillippe Obi (FRA) who had an equally strong morning session. Cavalcante da Silva continued to work with his momentum, holding Obi down for ippon inside the first minute of the final.
GOLD Arthur Cavalcante da Silva (BRA)
SILVER Phillippe Obi (FRA)
BRONZE Abylay Adilbekov (KAZ)
BRONZE Oscar Widegren (SWE)
J2W -70 kg
Alana Maldonado needed two victories to secure gold and, understanding the task very clearly, she completed it with aplomb. She logged an ippon win in each contest to earn her place on the top step of the podium.
GOLD Alana Maldonado (BRA)
SILVER Kelly Kethyllin Barros Victorio (BRA)
J1W +70 kg
GOLD Erika Zoaga (BRA)
SILVER Millena De Freitas (BRA)
J1M +95 kg
This was a busy category, fought enthusiastically under the roof of the Brazilian Paralympic Training Centre in Sao Paolo. Paralympic champion Willians De Araujo (BRA) was expected to reach the final but made a mistake and had to settle for a place in a bronze medal contest. The number two seed, however, did not make a mistake and ran to the final without a hitch. Yerlan Utepov (KAZ) would face a surprise opponent in the form of Ion Basoc (MDA).
Basoc won the gold medal, showing a great feeling for positioning in ne-waza, capitalising on a mistake made by his Kazakh opponent.
GOLD Ion Basoc (MDA)
SILVER Yerlan Utepov (KAZ)
BRONZE Oscar Aguirre (MEX)
BRONZE Willians De Araujo (BRA)
J2M +95 kg
Another busy category, these judoka offered powerful throws and athleticism, a great spectacle for everyone in the arena. Current world champion Zhurkamyrza Shukurbekov (KAZ) engaged in a fast-moving final with Felipe Amorim De Souza (BRA). The pace worked in the Kazakh athlete’s favour and he was able to launch into a big ippon throw to earn the gold medal.
GOLD Zhurkamyrza Shukurbekov (KAZ)
SILVER Felipe Amorim De Souza (BRA)
BRONZE Jack Hodgson (GBR)
BRONZE Abner Nascimento De Oliveira (BRA)
J2M -95 kg
This round robin category delivered dynamism and excitement despite the low numbers. It was the French team who could celebrate and enjoy their anthem during the medal ceremony as Helios Latchoumanaya won by ippon in every contest to reach the top of the podium.
GOLD Helio Latchoumanaya (FRA)
SILVER Marcelo Casanova (BRA)
BRONZE Inigo Gerboles Lopes (ESP)
The Sao Paolo IBSA Grand Prix has come to an end with the home team rushing past all others to the top of the medal table.
Tomorrow the same arena opens its doors to another event, the IBSA Pan-America and Oceania Championships. New continental champions will be crowned!
