J1W -52 kg
The final of this category was a loud affair with the home crowd cheering for their athlete, Rosicleide De Andrade (BRA). She had to face Egypt’s Omnia Dawoud for the event title, a judoka who impressed in the morning session.
De Andrade didn’t let the opportunity to excel on home soil pass her by. She threw Dawoud with o-goshi for a first waza-ari and then held her for ten seconds for another, finishing the contest in just half an hour minute. Her supporters applauded and De Andrade released a huge grin in appreciation.
GOLD Rosicleide De Andrade (BRA)
SILVER Omnia Dawoud (EGY)
BRONZE Rocio Silvana D Ledesma Dure (ARG)
BRONZE Jocelyn Atziri Ortiz Carreon (MEX)
J2W -52 kg
In this round-robin category, judoka from 3 continents and 4 countries aimed at gold. Ultimately the victory went to Aibike Ulanbek Kyzy (KGZ) who won all her contests by ippon
GOLD Aibike Ulanbek Kyzy (KGZ)
SILVER Carmen Brussig (SUI)
BRONZE Hsin-Ying Tsai (TPE)
J1M -70 kg
This category is always fought fiercely, especially as one of the most successful athletes in Para-judo history is still very active on the tatami. Florin Alexandru Bologna (ROU) was the man to beat, arriving with the gold back patch on display.
Bologa threw immediately after the first ‘hajime’ and then worked very hard to free a trapped leg but Gauto knew the consequences of letting go and held on with all he had. In the very next exchange, Bologa finished what he had started by ploughing into Gauto with a strong left-sided seoi-otoshi to earn a second score and the gold medal.
GOLD Florin Alexandru Bologna (ROU)
SILVER Eduardo Gauto (ARG)
BRONZE Assylan Nurdauletov (KAZ)
BRONZE Elielton De Oliveira (BRA)
J2W -60 kg
In this round-robin category, Brazil looked poised to take the gold with Lucia Araujo but the challengers were ready and Araujo’s day became less scripted than she had hoped. Thal of Germany dominated from the outset and earned her place at the top of the podium.
GOLD Isabell Thal (GER)
SILVER Laura Candela Gonzalez (ARG)
BRONZE Maria Nubea Dos Santos Lins (BRA)
J2M -70 kg
Top seed Miles Solomon (GBR), a recent world medallist, retained pole position throughout the day, all the way to the final. There he met Sergio Ibanez Banon (ESP), who had an equally impressive morning. The final began evenly but as time went on, Solomon was initiating attacks more, hunting the scores. However, Ibanez Banon is an expert with the counters and he felt the right moment twice to score and take the gold.
GOLD Sergio Ibanez Banon (ESP)
SILVER Miles Solomon (GBR)
BRONZE Thiego Da Silva (BRA)
BRONZE Youn Balcou (FRA)
J1M -81 kg
Danilo David Geronimo Silva (BRA) and Cyril D Jonard (FRA) were expected to arrive at the final, both carrying a lot of experience this level and higher. However, Lennart Sass (GER) put paid to Jonard’s goal, defeating him by ippon in their semi-final.
GOLD Danilo David Geronimo Silva (BRA) vs Lennart Sass (GER)
BRONZE Cyril D Jonard (FRA)
BRONZE Taha Al-Gburi (IRQ)
J2M -81 kg
Galymzhan Smagululy (KAZ) began his day at the top of the sheet and was determined to end there too. Number two seed Evan Molloy (GBR) had designs on gold too but his run was cut a little short by Bexultan Kulmurza (KAZ) and so an all-Kazakh final ensued.
Kulmurza, the current world champion, was straight to the attack, earning himself a buffer to the tune of a waza-ari score. Smagululy gripped well and held off his opponent for a while but at the halfway point Kulmurza added a waza-ari hold to his scoreline and that sealed the victory.
GOLD Bexultan Kulmurza (KAZ)
SILVER Galymzhan Smagululy (KAZ)
BRONZE Evan Molloy (GBR)
BRONZE Donghoon Kim (KOR)
The first 7 gold medals have been decided and at the end of day one 14 countries had already won medals. Germany was at the top of the standings with 2 golds. Day two begins at 10am local time tomorrow.
All photos by Taba Benedicto.