Host nation Georgia added to their already impressive medal tally via Revaz Chikoidze (GEO), who dominated the J2M +95 kg pool with four rapid wins. His longest bout lasted just 1:18, while his fastest victory took only 15 seconds. In total, he needed less than a full contest time (4 minutes) to capture gold. Jack Hodgson (GBR) claimed silver, while Rodrigo Suarez Garrosa (ESP) completed the podium with bronze.
Paris 2024 Paralympic and reigning world champion Anastasiia Harnyk (UKR) needed just two contests to secure the J1W +70 kg title. She did so in style, spending a total of only 34 seconds on the mat, another reminder that her glittering résumé is no accident. In the J2W -70 kg category, Duygu Cete Artar (TUR) followed a similar path, overcoming Ketevan Giligashvili (GEO) and Monika Azelionyte (LTU) with conviction.
Carolina Costa (ITA) was unstoppable in the J2W +70 kg category. En route to the crown, she defeated home favourite and Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze medallist Ina Kaldani (GEO), who went on to secure bronze. Silver went to Dursadaf Karimova (AZE), rounding out the round robin categories.
The final block therefore began with fireworks in the J1M -95 kg section. In the bronze medal contest, Valerio Teodori (ITA) and 2025 world bronze medallist Yasin Cimciler (TUR) both secured podium places. Cimciler staged a comeback victory after Predrag Stojnovic (CRO) scored first. The final brought high drama. Daniel Powell (GBR) faced Pavel Selivanov (NPA) and it was the latter who struck first, scoring yuko with a tomoe-nage in the opening 20 seconds. Still, Powell responded with grit. Within half a minute he countered with a powerful sumi-otoshi to finish the contest and secure his status as both 2025 IBSA world and European champion.
The J2M -95 kg medal fights were no less spectacular. Daniel Goral (GER) stunned his opponent in just four seconds with a lightning-fast uchi-mata to claim bronze. On the adjacent mat, the home crowd roared as 2025 world bronze medallist Lasha Kizilashvili (GEO) delivered an emphatic ippon via o-uchi-gari with 90 seconds remaining.
The final saw reigning world champion Zviad Gogotchuri (GEO) take on Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medallist Helios Latchoumanaya (FRA). The Frenchman attacked relentlessly, first with a tomoe-nage, then with a low seoi-nage. Though Gogotchuri resisted, the pressure mounted. Two penalties went against the Georgian and in the dying seconds, Latchoumanaya finally broke through, scoring yuko to claim the title against all odds.
Hungary’s lone representative, Flora Buranyi, delivered in spectacular fashion. With a soto-maki-komi, she claimed bronze in the J1W -60 kg category. Joining her in third place was 2025 world bronze medallist Merve (TUR). The final was a tense affair until Alsu Nasyrova (NPA), the top seed, threw Anzhela Havrysiuk (UKR) for waza-ari midway through the contest, enough to secure gold.
The day concluded with the J1M +95 kg battles. Veteran Oleg Cretul (MDA) added yet another medal to his long list of achievements, winning bronze, while Gokhan Bicer (TUR) shared the third step of the podium with him. The last final was a true clash of titans: 2025 world and Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medallist Ion Basoc (MDA) versus Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze medallist Ilham Zakiyev (AZE). Their showdown stretched into golden score, where Zakiyev’s sheer power and te-waza skill tipped the balance. With that, the Azerbaijani legend claimed the 2025 IBSA European crown, closing a remarkable second day in Tbilisi.
Georgia topped the overall medal table with a tally of three gold, two silver and four bronze medals. In second place were the Neutral Paralympic Athletes (3-2-2), while Türkiye finished third with 2 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze medals. The final day of the event will see the men’s team competition take centre stage, as squads step onto the tatami to battle for the coveted IBSA European team title.