PARA Judo - Another Day of World Class Para Judo in São Paulo / IJF.org

The second day of the IBSA Judo Grand Prix São Paulo 2026 confirmed the outstanding standard of competition that has characterised the opening event of the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic qualification period. Before another full day of world class Para judo unfolded at the Brazil Paralympic Center, athletes, officials and guests gathered for the event's opening ceremony, celebrating not only sporting excellence but also the shared commitment to inclusion and opportunity through sport.

Among those attending were Sergiu Oleinic, IBSA Judo Sport and Events Director, Helder Araújo, President of the Brazilian Confederation of Sports for the Blind, Romário Marques, Secretary General of the Brazilian Confederation of Sports for the Blind, Marcos da Costa, São Paulo State Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and Henrique Guimarães, President of the São Paulo Judo Federation.

Welcoming the delegations, Sergiu Oleinic praised both the host city and the organising team: "São Paulo is a land of judo champions. Thank you to all the officials and the local organising team for delivering this Grand Prix and Championships at such a high level. Good luck to all delegations."

Helder Araújo underlined the significance of the event as the qualification journey towards Los Angeles 2028 is now officially underway. He paid tribute to the courage and determination shown by every athlete while highlighting the commitment of the Brazilian authorities and organisers to providing the very best conditions for Para judoka to perform at the highest level.

Medal table.

The competition that followed fully justified those words. Across nine categories, the athletes delivered another day of intense, high quality judo. Some divisions were contested in a round robin format, others through knockout draws, but regardless of the format, every contest reflected the growing depth and competitiveness of international Para judo.

A total of 142 competitors, including 63 women and 79 men, representing 29 nations from all five continents, took part in the grand prix, illustrating both the worldwide reach of Para judo and the growing strength of the international circuit. Every contest contributed to a truly global celebration of the sport.

Brazil once again enjoyed an outstanding day in front of its home supporters, collecting four gold medals through Arthur Cavalcante da Silva, Brenda Souza de Freitas, Wilians de Araujo and Rebeca Silva. At the conclusion of the two days of competition, the host nation topped the medal table with six gold medals, ahead of Kazakhstan (3) and Ukraine (2). Uzbekistan, Japan, France, Romania and Kyrgyzstan each celebrated one title, highlighting the increasingly competitive nature of international Para judo. Even more remarkably, 22 different nations reached the podium, a testament to the depth and diversity of the sport across the globe.

With two days completed, São Paulo has already provided a spectacular opening to the new Paralympic cycle. One final chapter now remains, as attention turns to the IBSA Judo American Championships, where continental honours will be decided before the world's best Para judoka continue their long journey towards Los Angeles 2028.