Mr Rati Ionathamishvili, President of the Georgian Paralympic Committee declared, "It is privilege to host you for the third time here in Tbilisi. This is significant for us. We want to conduct this competition with the highest possible standards. We are, all together, a great family. Thank you very much for your commitment. Thank you to the IJF and IBSA and thank you to the Georgian Judo Federation, as well as to the Ministry of Sports, the broadcasters, to volunteers and the participants. I wish you all good luck."
Mr Janos Tardos, IBSA Judo Chair, says, "On behalf of IBSA, I welcome everybody to Tbilisi. Last year we concluded the Paris 2024 Paralympic qualification period here in Georgia. In 2025, we begin a new cycle that will lead us to Los Angeles 2028. Thank you to our hosts and thank you to IBSA and the IJF. I have very good news for you as last week we signed a new Memorandum of Understanding between the IJF and IBSA, to support Para-judo for the next four years. Enjoy the judo!"
Sara Alvarez, IBSA Judo Sport Director, analyses today's competition, "I was excited to follow the first day of competition in Tbilisi. After the Paralympic Games in Paris, we made some very important changes concerning the weight categories. It was tested a first time in Kazakhstan, but we can say that here in Tbilisi we had the real big test.
Para-judo has made a lot of modifications over the years. After Tokyo 2020, we introduced the J1/J2 categories and now we have the new weight categories. We must all understand that the changes have an impact on the lives of our athletes, more than any other judoka. So I was very curious to see if we had made the right choice and I can tell you that we did. I am impressed by how Para-judo people adapt. It's not easy but they do and they must be praised for that.
One of the consequences is that we have seen a lot of new faces today. We still have many veterans of the circuit but new judoka are coming in and that's very positive. We must also not forget that with the implementation of the new refereeing rules, we also added one more layer of change.
The introduction of the yuko is super positive, especially for J1 athletes. Sometime it's difficult for them to execute a perfect ippon or a waza-ari and having the yuko gives them more chances, more opportunities to win.
Often there is something that people without disabilities don't understand. As there is no kumi-kata phase with Para-judo, there are fewer moments to breathe and recover. As soon as the referee says hajime, it's game on, it's fast and it’s furious. The judoka get tired very fast and that's why we have fewer golden scores during our events. The new rules reinforce that impression. Today, I have seen only a few golden scores.
We are entering an exciting new cycle that will bring Para-judo to the next level. As I mentioned, we now have a mix of old and new judoka but we also see a lot of new coaches. This is what we need! So I was excited, maybe a little worried, but after this first day of judo, I feel good and happy for all our Para-judoka."
There is still one more day to go, one more day during which Sara and all the experts present in Georgia will enjoy the capacity of the Para-judoka to overcome all difficulties and take advantage of all the changes.
RESULTS
J1M -70 kg
- 1. BOLOGA, Florin Alexandru (ROU)
- 2. CAMANNI, Dong Dong (ITA)
- 3. PARMAR, Kapil (IND)
- 3. RUDENKO, Viktor (NPA)
- 5. AGUIAR, Emerson (BRA)
- 5. ISAEV, Shamil (NPA)
- 7. ARTAN, Lokman (TUR)
- 7. DE OLIVEIRA, Elielton (BRA)
J1M -81 kg
- 1. BAGDAVADZE, Saba (GEO)
- 2. YAVUZ, Gokce (TUR)
- 3. GERONIMO SILVA, Danilo David (BRA)
- 3. RADJAI, Youcef (ALG)
- 5. JONARD, Cyril (FRA)
- 5. ABDURAKHMANOV, Saado (NPA)
- 7. SHAMEY, Yergali (KAZ)
- 7. ARSTANBEKOV, Bauyrzhan (KAZ)
J2M -70 kg
- 1. KALDANI, Giorgi (GEO)
- 2. ZURABIANI, Zurab (GEO)
- 3. OULDKOUIDER, Ishak(ALG)
- 3. KHORAVA, Davyd (UKR)
- 5. CRETU, Vadim (MDA)
- 5. SOLOMAN, Miles (GBR)
- 7. OMAROV, Abdula (NPA)
- 7. DA SILVA, Thiego (BRA)
J2M -81 kg
- 1. BAREIKIS, Osvaldas (LTU)
- 2. SMAGULULY, Galymzhan (KAZ)
- 3. SHELIA, Bachuki (GEO)
- 3. MOLLOY, Evan (GBR)
- 5. CANNIZZARO, Simone (ITA)
- 5. MAHOMEDOV, Rufat (UKR)
- 7. KURBANOV, Shakhban (NPA)
- 7. VARGOCZKI, Daniel (ROU)
J1W -52 kg
- 1. TLEKKABYL, Alfiya (KAZ)
- 2. POTAPOVA, Victoria (NPA)
- 3. TASIN CAVDAR, Ecem TUR)
- 3. DE ANDRADE, Rosicleide (BRA)
- 5. ELMALI, Havva (TUR)
- 5. OMAROVA, Aminat (NPA)
- 7. BAUYRZHAN, Inkar (KAZ)
- 7. UBARIKOVA, Ferdauza Ulanbekovna (KGZ)
J2W -52 kg
- 1. NAUATBEK, Akmaral (KAZ)
- 2. THAL, Isabell (GER)
- 3. STEPANIUK, Alesia (NPA)
- 3. AURIERES MARTINET, Sandrine (FRA)
- 5. YAKYMCHUK, Liudmyla (UKR)
- 5. KOKILA (IND)
J2W -60 kg
1. STAKANOVA, Daria (NPA)
2. MAGOMEDOVA, Zulfiiat (NPA)
3. ATASAYAR, Gulhan (TUR)
3. YESILYURT, Dondu (TUR)
5; FEDOSSOVA, Dayana (KAZ)
5. ARAUJO, Lucia (BRA)
7. CORDEIRO MACHADO, Hellen (BRA)