J1W -60 kg
Five judoka fought in this round robin category, producing some excellent judo along the way. Big throws and sharp transition came from both experienced and less experienced athletes. Larissa Silva of Brazil won the gold medal, Paula Karina Gomez took silver and Evie Gormley of Great Britain won bronze, a first IBSA medal for the 21 year old.
J1W +70 kg
Millena De Freitas (BRA) dominated Feruza Ergasheva (UZB) with both scores and penalties being registered in favour of the Brazilian. She and her delegation were happy to hear their anthem ring out in the Hall of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Giza.
J1M -95 kg
This was an elite final of the highest order between the current world champion Daniel Powell (GBR) and the current Paralympic champion Arthur Cavalcante Da Silva (BRA). A textbook left versus right situation ensued, a battle to pull in each other’s sleeve and create an advantage.
The Brazilian judoka used ko-uchi-gari well to change position and eventually he caught the Briton to log a waza-ari on his side of the board. More than two minutes left on the clock though were plenty for Powell to find his own space and he really opened up in search for his score. With a minute to go, Cavalcante attacked and Powell jumped on his back applying a strong shime-waza. The submission was moments away but the escape came, a lucky escape for the Brazilian. In the end the time ran out for Powel and Cavalcante won the gold medal.
J2W -70 kg
Alana Maldonado (BRA) is a very experienced competitor. She has the gold backnumber on display, the illustration of her highest achievement, a Paralympic gold medal in Paris last summer. Gulshan of India gave their contest her best but Maldonado had it sewn up, another gold medal to add to her collection. The silver medal was Gulshan’s.
J1W -70 kg
Brenda Souza De Freitas (BRA) began her day at the top of the rankings and she held her position perfectly, throwing well, gripping excellently and using tension and strength in every attack. The final was no different although Theodora Paschalidou kept the pace up, attacked excellently from waza-ari behind and certainly didn’t offer Souza De Freitas an easy ride to gold. It wasn’t enough though; Brenda Souza De Freitas was the IBSA grand prix champion!
J2M -95 kg
In this round robin group, the gold medallist was Helios Latchoumanaya (FRA) ahead of silver medallist Marcelo Casanova (BRA). Only ippon wins were registered, making it an exciting category to watch.
J1M +95 kg
Wilian’s De Araujo is another member of the incredibly high level Brazilian team. He was the Paralympic champion in Paris and is continuing to dominate the category.
In Giza, De Araujo arrived at the final without a hitch, to face Baglanbek Onalbek (KAZ). The final went just as the other contests did, De Araujo moving into position perfectly and scoring, almost easily, to take the win.
J2M +95 kg
In this round robin group, the gold medallist was Felipe Amorim De Souza of Brazil ahead of silver the medallist, from France, Nacer Zorgani. All contests were won by ippon, decisively.
J2W +70kg
The last group of the day culminated in a Brazilian derby for the gold medal. Rebeca Silva and Meg Emmerich saw off all the opposition, holding seeding, to claim the first and second prizes of the category.
In their final, Paralympic champion Silva took the lead quickly, throwing for yuko. Emmerich never looked positioned to equalise and just before the last minute began, Silva took away any hope by throwing her for ippon. The last gold of the day was claimed!