We were looking for a really authoritative opinion, the voice of an expert, a real one; someone with scientific knowledge and, if possible, with sports experience. The good thing about judo is that there are people for everything, with professions and studies of all kinds. This time we find the perfect candidate in Paula Pareto.
Paula Pareto

The Argentinian is the current Olympic champion in the -48kg category and that seems like satisfactory sports knowledge. As for the scientific side, she is a doctor. Pareto works in a hospital and combines her work with the passion of her life, judo.

So, with the return of the World Judo Tour we wanted to know if we are doing things well.

"Zero risk does not exist," Pareto explains. “It is the first thing you learn in medicine. To avoid contagions, measures must be taken and I am in favour of strict ones. It is always better to go too far than to fall short."

The International Judo Federation has established a demanding protocol to protect the health of everyone: athletes, staff and guests.

Paula Pareto and Distria Krasniqi

"I can´t complain," Pareto says. “We all wanted to return to competition and sanitary measures are the toll we have to pay. It seems to me that things are going well and we all respect the conditions imposed because it is what meets the needs of the situation. I say it as a doctor, not as a judoka.”

While the subject is open we can take the opportunity to ask the sports professional too, “It was very nice to see my colleagues again, especially those who had been sick. This is a very hard sport and we are living the toughest period of time; it has a great cost. For this reason, competing is our reward and, in the end, the security protocol is indispensable because it allows us to do our work."

Pareto won the silver medal at this grand slam. In the final she was defeated by Kosovo’s Distria Krasniqi. “I leave with a bittersweet taste in my mouth. Nobody likes to lose, but then again, it was about picking up the pace. If I had to summarise, I would say mission accomplished."

A mission accomplished twice! The sports view meets expectations, with excellent contests. When it comes to security measures, the doctor has given us a good grade too.

See also
Upper Austria GP 2026
Upper Austria GP 2026 Ready to Raise the Standard in Linz

03. Mar. 2026 / The IJF World Judo Tour moves on swiftly from Tashkent ...

OTP Group Tashkent GS 2026
The World Judo Tour Sparkled in Tashkent

01. Mar. 2026 / The final day of the OTP Group Tashkent Grand Slam ...

OTP Group Tashkent GS 2026
+100 kg: A Grand Finale in Tashkent

01. Mar. 2026 / Top seed on home soil, Alisher Yusupov (UZB) carried ...

OTP Group Tashkent GS 2026
+78 kg: Sone Returned to the Summit

01. Mar. 2026 / For months, even years, she had been largely absent ...

OTP Group Tashkent GS 2026
-100 kg: Sadrudinov Struck at the Last Moment

01. Mar. 2026 / Zelym Kotsoiev (AZE) is the kind of champion who wins ...

OTP Group Tashkent GS 2026
-78 kg: Issoufi Executed Her Plan to Perfection

01. Mar. 2026 / The -78 kg category was the first in which the line-up ...

OTP Group Tashkent GS 2026
-90 kg: Fatiyev Stunned the Favourite

01. Mar. 2026 / There are certain judoka for whom fans make the journey ...

OTP Group Tashkent GS 2026
Tashkent: Where Judo Brings Nations Together

28. Feb. 2026 / The OTP Group Tashkent Grand Slam 2026 was declared ...

Cadet WC 2027
Moldova to Host the 2027 Cadet World Championships

28. Feb. 2026 / Today in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, running parallel to ...

OTP Group Tashkent GS 2026
-81 kg: Rajabli Seized His Moment with Authority

28. Feb. 2026 / The identity of the -81 kg finalists remained uncertain ...

OTP Group Tashkent GS 2026
-70 kg: Experience Prevailed as Butkereit Claimed Gold

28. Feb. 2026 / For two days, France had been searching for a breakthrough ...

OTP Group Tashkent GS 2026
-73 kg: Abdulloi Confirmed His Authority in an Open Field

28. Feb. 2026 / The last-minute withdrawal of 2024 world and reigning ...

OTP Group Tashkent GS 2026
-63 kg: Tanioka Denied the Favourite and Claimed Gold

28. Feb. 2026 / As top seed, Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard (CAN) carried ...

INTERVIEW EXPRESS
Shishime Ai (JPN)

08. Jun. 2018 / The next reigning world champion to be invited to answer ...

News
5 Key Takeaways from judo’s first Tokyo 2020 qualifier

06. Jun. 2018 / Highlights from Hohhot Grand Prix 2018

VIDEO
Judo for the World in Iran

07. Jun. 2018 / In April 2018, the International Judo Federation and ...

Meeting
JUDO: A Beneficial Cause

07. Jun. 2018 / 'Society should believe in sport as a beneficial cause ...