Tashkent IBSA Grand Prix 2019, UZB – DAY ONE – The Battle of the favorites

Tashkent, Sept 24, 2019: IBSA judo has produced several judo heroes the last years during world and Paralympic championships (Tashkent IBSA Grand Prix).

On day 1 of the IBSA Grand Prix, they proved why they claimed that position. Of the six categories who competed, four of the number one seeds claimed the gold medal. The other two number ones just made one single slip and ended up winning a bronze medal.

On 20 September, 2018, during the first day of the 2018 Judo Worlds in Baku, Azerbaijan, the International Judo Federation had renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with IBSA, the International Blind Sports Federation.

The continuous aim of this collaboration between both international sports bodies is to continue to work jointly on the development of universal judo in a well-coordinated manner.

Opening Ceremony of the IBSA GP

As part of this MoU, the IJF is actively supporting IBSA Judo to organize major events, which are qualifiers for the Paralympic Games next year in Tokyo. Following the IJF Judo Grand Prix, which took place over the weekend, a two-day IBSA Grand Prix is being held in the same venue and with the same facilities. A big part of the IJF organizing and communication team as well as the referees who were active during the weekend remained on spot to assist the organizers of the IBSA Grand Prix.

As part of this MoU, the IJF is actively supporting IBSA Judo to organize major events, which are qualifiers for the Paralympic Games next year in Tokyo. Following the IJF Judo Grand Prix, which took place over the weekend, a two-day IBSA Grand Prix is being held in the same venue and with the same facilities. A big part of the IJF organizing and communication team as well as the referees who were active during the weekend remained on spot to assist the organizers of the IBSA Grand Prix.

The atmosphere in Tashkent was mesmerizing. Even though it was a Monday, many seats in the brand new Humo Arena were filled. It shows that the Uzbek love the sport and are here to support their heroes. And they were not disappointed with not only many ippons – both in tachi an ne waza – but on top of that, Uzbekistan is leading the medal table with 2 gold and one silver medals.

-48kg

Sandrine AURIERES MARTINET of France didn’t take long to get accustomed to her new weight category. After winning the Paralympic title in the -52kg category, she went down to the -48kg category, winning a bronze medal in the world championships last year. She once again showed her class here in Tashkent, picking up her third gold medal this year. Anticipating the attack of LEE Kai Lin of Chinese Taipei, the ne waza specialist cleverly turned Lee into a hold-down for ippon.

Final
AURIERES MARTINET, Sandrine B2 (FRA) vs. LEE, Kai Lin B2 (TPE)
Bronze Medal Contests
EKE, Cahide B2 (TUR) vs. LI, Liqing B2 (CHN)
KHURRAMOVA, Lobar B3 (UZB) vs. HAJIYEVA, Shahana B2 (AZE)

Final Results

1. AURIERES MARTINET, Sandrine B2 (FRA)
2. LEE, Kai Lin B2 (TPE)
3. HAJIYEVA, Shahana B2 (AZE)
4. LI, Liqing B2 (CHN)
5. EKE, Cahide B2 (TUR)
6. KHURRAMOVA, Lobar B3 (UZB)
7. HALINSKA, Yuliya B2 (UKR)
8. POTAPOVA, Victoria B1 (RUS)

-60kg

It was Florin Alexandru BOLOGA of Romania in the 60kg category who stole the show today. The B1 athlete is slowly turning into one of the superstars of IBSA judo, if he isn’t already one. The bronze medalist from last Paralympic Games took some rest after winning the European title, but that wasn’t noticeable during his contests on Day 1 in Tashkent. Beating home favorite and Paralympic Champion Sherzod Namazov in the final with a juji gatame, he will be one of the favorites to win the Paralympic title next year in Tokyo.

Final
BOLOGA, Florin Alexandru B1 (ROU) vs. NAMOZOV, Sherzod B2 (UZB)
Bronze Medal Contests
GAVILAN LORENZO, Luis Daniel B3 (ESP) vs. ORAZALYULY, Olzhas B3 (KAZ)
NASHWAN, Shugga Sami Ali B1 (GER) vs. SARIYEV, Anuar B3 (KAZ)

Final Results

1. BOLOGA, Florin Alexandru B1 (ROU)
2. NAMOZOV, Sherzod B2 (UZB)
3. ORAZALYULY, Olzhas B3 (KAZ)
4. SARIYEV, Anuar B3 (KAZ)
5. GAVILAN LORENZO, Luis Daniel B3 (ESP)
6. NASHWAN, Shugga Sami Ali B1 (GER)
7. BOLORMAA, Uugankhuu B3 (MGL)
8. ZURABIANI, Zurab B3 (GEO)

-52KG
IBSA’s superstar Inna CHERNIAK of Ukraine showed a convincing performance. Cherniak has been unbeaten since 2015 and on day 1 that didn’t change. A strong left koshi guruma followed up by an osae-komi was enough to beat Canadian Priscilla GAGNE. With her gold, she completed the family party since her twin sister Maryna picked up a bronze medal just a few days before during the IJF Grand Prix.

Final/Tashkent IBSA Grand Prix
CHERNIAK, Inna B3 (UKR) vs. GAGNE, Priscilla B1 (CAN)
Bronze Medal Contests
ABDELLAOUI, Cherine B3 (ALG) vs. SALAEVA, Sevinch B3 (UZB)
STEPANIUK, Alesia B3 (RUS) vs. SAFAROVA, Basti B2 (AZE)

Final Results

1. CHERNIAK, Inna B3 (UKR)
2. GAGNE, Priscilla B1 (CAN)
3. ABDELLAOUI, Cherine B3 (ALG)
4. STEPANIUK, Alesia B3 (RUS)
5. SAFAROVA, Basti B2 (AZE)
6. SALAEVA, Sevinch B3 (UZB)
7. ABDULLAYEVA, Sabina B2 (AZE)
8. LI, Yanqing B2 (CHN)

-66KG
After the first silver medal for Uzbekistan, the Uzbek crowd didn’t have to wait long for more excitement. It was Uchkun KURANBAEV who got the crowd on their feet, defeating Namig ABASLI of Azerbaijan with an osae-komi waza in a thrilling final. It was in this category that the number one seed, Davyd KHORAVA of Ukraine had to suffer a loss. He made up for it by beating Sergio IBANEZ BANON of Spain in the bronze medal match.

Final
ABASLI, Namig B3 (AZE) vs. KURANBAEV, Uchkun B3 (UZB)
Bronze Medal Contests
ALDANI, Giorgi B2 (GEO) vs. LAMRI, Sid Ali B3 (ALG)
IBANEZ BANON, Sergio B3 (ESP) vs. KHORAVA, Davyd B2 (UKR)

Final Results/Tashkent IBSA Grand Prix

1. KURANBAEV, Uchkun B3 (UZB)
2. ABASLI, Namig B3 (AZE)
3. KALDANI, Giorgi B2 (GEO)
4. KHORAVA, Davyd B2 (UKR)
5. IBANEZ BANON, Sergio B3 (ESP)
6. LAMRI, Sid Ali B3 (ALG)
7. AAJIM, Munkhbat B3 (MGL)
8. VIEIRA, Miguel B1 (POR)

-57kg
Parvina SAMANDAROVA was the third Uzbek in the final of this first day of competition. Although she was number one seed, she was given a hard task to beat Baku Grand Prix winner Sevda VALIYEVA of Azerbaijan. In an exciting final, it was VALIYEVA who looked the better one, scoring a waza-ari early in the contest. Samandarova didn’t give up and came up with a beautiful juji-gatame that forced Valiyeva to tap out.

Final
SAMANDAROVA, Parvina B3 (UZB) vs. SAMANDAROVA, Parvina B3 (UZB)
Bronze Medal Contests
SULTANOVA, Afag B2 (AZE) vs. ARAUJO, Lucia B3 (BRA)
HIROSE, Junko B2 (JPN) vs. OVCHINNIKOVA, Natalia B1 (RUS)

Final Results/Tashkent IBSA Grand Prix

1. SAMANDAROVA, Parvina B3 (UZB)
2. VALIYEVA, Sevda B3 (AZE)
3. HIROSE, Junko B2 (JPN)
4. SULTANOVA, Afag B2 (AZE)
5. ARAUJO, Lucia B3 (BRA)
6. OVCHINNIKOVA, Natalia B1 (RUS)
7. FROLOVA, Irina B2 (RUS)
8. LOHATSKA, Liudmyla B3 (UKR)

-73kg

The biggest surprise of the day was caused by Shakhban KURBANOV of Russia, beating number one seed Nikolai KORNHASS (GER) with two waza-ari. KURBANOV, who was last seen on a podium in 2015, was on fire at the Hubo Arena in Tashkent. He defeated the top favorites with attractive judo. In the final he faced his team mate Vasilii KUTUEV. A single waza-ari was enough to take the gold medal, his first one since 2009.

Final
KURBANOV, Shakhban B2 (RUS) vs. KUTUEV, Vasilii B3 (RUS)
Bronze Medal Contests
DAULET, Temirzhan B3 (KAZ) vs. GASIMOV, Ramil B3 (AZE)
SHELIA, Bachuki B2 (GEO) vs. KORNHASS, Nikolai B2 (GER)

Final Results

1. KURBANOV, Shakhban B2 (RUS)
2. KUTUEV, Vasilii B3 (RUS)
3. GASIMOV, Ramil B3 (AZE)
4. KORNHASS, Nikolai B2 (GER)
5. DAULET, Temirzhan B3 (KAZ)
6. SHELIA, Bachuki B2 (GEO)
7. GAVILAN LORENZO, Alvaro B3 (ESP)
8. IAFA, Djibrilo B1 (POR). —- IJF