Since a few years, Uzbekistan has been investing in IBSA judo. As a result, they topped the Medal Podium at the last Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The last two days they proved that it didn’t stop there. The Uzbek team won four of the thirteen categories and topped the Medal Podium once more.

Next to the Uzbek team being in great shape, we saw seven other nations winning a gold medal. It shows that many countries are working on an IBSA judo programme. We spoke to IBSA Sports Director Janos TARDOS about these developments. “You can tell that the level of judo is increasing all the time. Let me give you a clear example of that: In the past you could see many situations where one judoka attacked and there was either a score or a mate. Now you can see many combinations and counter attacks. It makes it more exciting, much more exciting to watch and you could tell here in Tashkent that the crowd was appreciating that.”

Tardos continues: “I am proud that the collaboration between IBSA and IJF is becoming stronger. It is not a coincidence that the two grand prix this year are combined with the IJF World Judo Tour. The IBSA staff is quite small and thanks to the collaboration we have a lot more recourses. Another benefit is that the staff of the local federation already knows what to do. At previous tournaments, we sometimes had to work with staff that was untrained for the event. Now, the staff already had the experience of the IJF Grand Prix.”

IBSA refereeing director Angelika WILHELM agrees with Janos and is pleased with the Tashkent Grand Prix: “I am very satisfied about this tournament. The level of judo has been very good here. The IJF staff helped us enormously with the organization and you can see that the athletes benefit from that. To add to that, the local organizing committee here has been amazing and I think everything together made it a great tournament.”

-81KG

It was the day of Davurkhon KAROMATOV (UZB) today, beating not only top favorite Huseyn RAHIMLI (AZE) with a flashy ippon, but also the experienced Dmytro SOLOVEY (UKR) in what was presumable the most exciting final of today. After Karomatov scored a first waza-ari with a soto maki komi, Solovey came back with a counter attack to even up the score. It was Karomatov that proved to be the most creative, coming up with a beautiful ko uchi maki komi to secure the third Uzbek gold.

Final

KAROMATOV, Davurkhon B3 (UZB) vs. SOLOVEY, Dmytro B2 (UKR)

Bronze Medal Contests

SABIROV, Ruslan B3 (RUS) vs. PETIT, Nathan B3 (FRA)

JOUBERT, Jacque B2 (RSA) vs. RAHIMLI, Huseyn B3 (AZE)

Final Results

1. KAROMATOV, Davurkhon B3 (UZB)

2. SOLOVEY, Dmytro B2 (UKR)

3. PETIT, Nathan B3 (FRA)

3. RAHIMLI, Huseyn B3 (AZE)

5. JOUBERT, Jacque B2 (RSA)

5. SABIROV, Ruslan B3 (RUS)

7. POWELL, Daniel B1 (GBR)

7. SMAGULULY, Galymzhan B3 (KAZ)

-63KG

With the absence of the complete world podium, the field in the -63kg category was completely open. It was Nafisa SHERIPBOEVA of Uzbekistan who took the occasion to show herself once again. After winning gold at the Baku Grand Prix earlier this year, she collected a second gold by overpowering Khanim HUSEYNOVA of Azerbaijan. European Champion Huseynova tried to counter the strong attacks of Sheripboeva, but ending up on her back.

Final

SHERIPBOEVA, Nafisa B3 (UZB) vs. HUSEYNOVA, Khanim B3 (AZE)

Bronze Medal Contests

PERNHEIM, Nicolina B1 (SWE) vs. CETE ARTAR, Duygu B2 (TUR)

MAGOMEDOVA, Aminat B3 (RUS) vs. ARCE PAYNO, Marta B3 (ESP)

Final Results

1. SHERIPBOEVA, Nafisa B3 (UZB)

2. HUSEYNOVA, Khanim B3 (AZE)

3. CETE ARTAR, Duygu B2 (TUR)

3. MAGOMEDOVA, Aminat B3 (RUS)

5. ARCE PAYNO, Marta B3 (ESP)

5. PERNHEIM, Nicolina B1 (SWE)

7. KUDO, Hiroko B3 (JPN)

7. SHARMA, Poonam B2 (IND)

-90KG

In the -90kg category Oleksandr NAZARENKO was the man to beat today, being the current World and European Champion. This was done by newcomer Lasha KIZILASHVILI of Georgia, in a tough battle in the semi-final. Kizilashvili showed a lot of spirit with a high rate of attacks, putting Nazarenko on three shidos. In the final he put Vahid NOURI of Iran on two shidos with the same strategy. But the work rate took its toll and after Kizilashvili ran out of energy, Nouri threw the Georgian with a beautiful left uchi mata to grab the gold. *

Final

KIZILASHVILI, Lasha B2 (GEO) vs. NOURI, Vahid B2 (IRI)

Bronze Medal Contests

AVAZOV, Jaloliddin B3 (UZB) vs. LATCHOUMANAYA, Helios B2 (FRA)

BOBOEV, Shukhrat B3 (UZB) vs. NAZARENKO, Oleksandr B2 (UKR)

Final Results

1. NOURI, Vahid B2 (IRI)

2. KIZILASHVILI, Lasha B2 (GEO)

3. AVAZOV, Jaloliddin B3 (UZB)

3. NAZARENKO, Oleksandr B2 (UKR)

5. BOBOEV, Shukhrat B3 (UZB)

5. LATCHOUMANAYA, Helios B2 (FRA)

7. CRETUL, Oleg B1 (MDA)

7. GORAL, Daniel Rafael B3 (GER)

-70KG

With the absence of Lenia RUVALCABA of Mexico, nobody could bring a real threat to Alana MARTINS of Brazil. In the final she overpowered Valina ALIBOEVA of Uzbekistan, putting her on three shidos to add another gold to her collection.

Final

MARTINS, Alana B2 (BRA) vs. ALIBOEVA, Vasila B3 (UZB)

Bronze Medal Contests

HUSEYNOVA, Zulfiyya B3 (AZE) vs. ZABRODSKAIA, Olga B2 (RUS)

OGAWA, Kazusa B2 (JPN) vs. ULUCAM, Raziye B3 (TUR)

Final Results

1. MARTINS, Alana B2 (BRA)

2. ALIBOEVA, Vasila B3 (UZB)

3. HUSEYNOVA, Zulfiyya B3 (AZE)

3. ULUCAM, Raziye B3 (TUR)

5. OGAWA, Kazusa B2 (JPN)

5. ZABRODSKAIA, Olga B2 (RUS)

7. GALUSTIAN, Ina B2 (GEO)

7. HERRERA GOMEZ, Carmen B3 (ESP)

-100KG

The -100kg category was also stripped of his favorites, with both Zviad GOGOTCHURI of Georgia and Abdula KURAMAGOMEDOV of Russia missing. It was Kanan ABDULLAKHANLI of Azerbaijan who gratefully made use of the occasion by beating Christopher SKELLEY of Great Britain in the final with a soto maki komi.

Final

SKELLEY, Christopher B2 (GBR) vs. ABDULLAKHANLI, Kanan B3 (AZE)

Bronze Medal Contests

KHALILOV, Sharif B3 (UZB) vs. ALAEV, Sulaymon B3 (UZB)

SHEVCHENKO, Anatolii B1 (RUS) vs. GOODRICH, Benjamin B3 (USA)

Final Results

1. ABDULLAKHANLI, Kanan B3 (AZE)

2. SKELLEY, Christopher B2 (GBR)

3. ALAEV, Sulaymon B3 (UZB)

3. GOODRICH, Benjamin B3 (USA)

5. KHALILOV, Sharif B3 (UZB)

5. SHEVCHENKO, Anatolii B1 (RUS)

7. GERBOLES LOPEZ, Inigo B2 (ESP)

7. TENORIO, Antonio B1 (BRA)

+70KG

Carolina Costa is on fire this year, already winning the IBSA Judo Grand Prix of Baku and the European Championships in Genoa earlier this year. She looked untouchable today, beating all her opponents with ippon. In the final she showed a strong combination of a uchi mata maki komi and osaekomi waza.

Final

BAIBATINA, Zarina B2 (KAZ) vs. COSTA, Carolina B3 (ITA)

Bronze Medal Contests

SILVA, Rebeca B3 (BRA) vs. EMMERICH, Meg B3 (BRA)

KARIMOVA, Dursadaf B3 (AZE) vs. TASBAG, Mesme B2 (TUR)

Final Results

1. COSTA, Carolina B3 (ITA)

2. BAIBATINA, Zarina B2 (KAZ)

3. EMMERICH, Meg B3 (BRA)

3. KARIMOVA, Dursadaf B3 (AZE)

5. SILVA, Rebeca B3 (BRA)

5. TASBAG, Mesme B2 (TUR)

7. HARNYK, Anastasiia B1 (UKR)

7. YUSUPOVA, Feruzakhon B3 (UZB)

+100KG

In the final category it was world champion Mohammadreza KHEIROLLAHZADEH of Iran that took home the gold. With a clever turnover, he held down Shirin SHARIPOV of Uzbekistan for twenty seconds to score the final ippon of today. *

Final

KHEIROLLAHZADEH, Mohammadreza B2 (IRI) vs. SHARIPOV, Shirin B3 (UZB)

Bronze Medal Contests

GAIDAROV, Gaidar B3 (RUS) vs. CHOI, Gwang Geun B2 (KOR)

ZAKIYEV, Ilham B1 (AZE) vs. HODGSON, Jack B2 (GBR)

Final Results

1. KHEIROLLAHZADEH, Mohammadreza B2 (IRI)

2. SHARIPOV, Shirin B3 (UZB)

3. GAIDAROV, Gaidar B3 (RUS)

3. ZAKIYEV, Ilham B1 (AZE)

5. CHOI, Gwang Geun B2 (KOR)

5. HODGSON, Jack B2 (GBR)

7. PAPACHRISTOS, Theoklitos B1 (GRE)

7. TASTAN, Onur B1 (TUR)

* The IBSA Grand Prix was held under the leadership of IBSA Judo, with the support of the IJF for the technical aspects of the competition, therefor the suspension of Iran Judo Federation announced last week, didn’t affect the participation of athletes from Iran.

See also