IBSA Judo Grand Prix Antalya 2024: Paris Qualifications and Success for India

The penultimate stage of the judo road to Paris 2024 Olympic Games began in Antalya, Turkiye on Monday the 1st of April with the 2024 IBSA Judo Grand Prix. This stood as one of the last opportunities for Judokas worldwide to gain points and qualify for the Paralympic Games at the end of summer.

Over the past few days, the Antalya Sports Hall has played host to an impressive gathering of top-tier Judokas, spanning two classes (J1 and J2) across eight weight categories in both men's and women’s disciplines.

Mr Sezer Huysuz the President of the Turkish Judo Federation expressed his excitement toward the event:

“IBSA Grand Prix Antalya will be the 3rd major event of the IBSA Judo 2024 and one of the last opportunities for preparations for the next Paralympic Games in Paris 2024. I extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation to IJF President Mr Marius Vizer and all IBSA directors for their support and confidence in the organisation of this event in Turkiye. I wish all of you, as well as the people of the world, good health, a strong spirit, and all the best to the participants! We would be glad to welcome you all again in Antalya, Turkiye.”

In 2022, comprehensive guidance and classification rules were released concerning blind Judo. These regulations provide a detailed delineation of the new classes: J2 for athletes who are partially sighted and J1 for those who are completely blind. Additionally, the guidelines have been bolstered with enhanced provisions governing the submission and requisites for classification data and classification appointments.

J1 – An athlete’s vision impairment must result in a visual acuity of less than or equal to LogMAR 2.6 in binocular vision.

J2 – The athlete’s visual acuity must be within a range between LogMAR 1.3 and 2.5 with binocular vision, or with a binocular visual field of 60 degrees or less in diameter.

The first day of the competition was highlighted by the victory of Kapil Parmar from India in the J1-60kg category. This historic performance bodes exceptionally well for the next Paralympic Games and India’s forthcoming participation.

Reflecting on his golden performance Kapil stated:

"I felt really good and winning was incredible. When I realised that my flag would rise in the air, I was ecstatic. Competing was an unbelievable experience. When you don't see, it's a special moment to step on the tatami. You have to rely entirely on your feelings and the coach. He is the one who tells you what to do and where to go. You have to be fully confident. I could recognise his voice in any situation. Yesterday he told me the exact time when I needed to attack, and we elaborated the strategy together."

Kapil attributes his victory significantly to his coach, Manawar Anzar, who provided unwavering support during training, crafted pre-competition strategies, and offered invaluable guidance throughout the matches.

Manawar Anzar stated, “Every action is based on the words that I can find. They need to be right. Yesterday they were and that's amazing. Half of the performance is based on words; the other half is the feelings of the athlete. Kapil had really good feelings.”

Kapil developed a passion for judo early in life, and with the establishment of the Indian Blind Para Judo Association in 2010, he dedicated himself to honing his skills and excelling in this sport. Following his triumphant match, Kapil's coach elucidated the intricacies of pre-match strategies, shedding light on the challenges faced by visually impaired athletes in navigating unfamiliar competition spaces. This insight underscores the profound impact such factors can have on a judoka's performance on the day of competition.

“People must understand that without sight, the judoka must be guided so they understand the place and the volume. Everything is in the mind. For days before the competition, we recognise every corner of the venue, from the field of play of course, to the warm-up area and the bathroom as well. Kapil needed to know where he was. Then it's a matter of having the right perception and in the end, everything comes naturally.”

The coach also assumes a pivotal role in the actual judo play. During training sessions, they convey moves and positions by using hand positioning, and physically demonstrating techniques through touch and movement, providing invaluable guidance and instruction to the judokas.

Anzar explains; “I have to take Kapil’s hands and feet and move them accordingly so he can feel what is going on. Then he has to integrate that into his body posture.”

Kapil Parmar (IND) and his coach Munawar Anzar

Despite a minor injury that posed a challenge for Kapil leading up to the competition, everything unfolded according to plan on the day of the event. As the final approached, Kapil remained remarkably composed and at ease, enabling him to achieve victory with grace and style. Kapil’s win ensures his position at the Paralympic Games in Paris at the end of summer. His recent success no doubt instils confidence in his abilities and Kapil is looking to win again; “I want to win the gold medal in Paris and create history for Indian para-judo.”

The Indian Team Post Competition

Day One Results:

Category:  J1-60kg:

1. Parmar, Kapil (IND)

2. De oliveira, Elielton (BRA)

3. Zhu, Shiwen (CHN)

3. Junaedi (INA)

5. Bouamer, Abdelkader (ALG)

5. Nashwan, Shugaa sami ali (YEM)

7. Blanco, Marcos dennis (VEN)

7. Bayasgalan, Sukhbat (MGL)

Category: J1-48kg:

1. Tasin cavdar, Ecem (TUR)

2. De andrade, Rosicleide (BRA)

3. Hangai, Shizuka (JPN)

3. Muller, anna Tabea (GER)

5. Ledesma dure, rocio d (ARG)

5. Togtokhbayar, Suvd-erdene (MGL)

7. Novia, Larassati (INA)

7. Toirova, Fotima (UZB)

J1 -73 kg

1. Bologa, florin Alexandru (ROU)

2. Lafa, Djibrilo (POR)

3. Shamey, Yergali (KAZ)

3. Camanni, dong Dong (ITA)

5. Kato, Yuji (JPN)

5. Yavuz, Gokce (TUR)

7. Gauto, Eduardo (ARG)

7. Lamani, Ndyebo (RSA)

J2 -48 kg

1. Li, Liqing (CHN)

2. Liu, Yi (CHN)

3. Eke, Cahide (TUR)

3. Aurieres martinet, Sandrine (FRA)

5. Kokila (IND)

5. Thal, Isabell (GER)

7. Ivanytska, Yuliia (UKR)

7. Brussig, Carmen (SUI)

J2 -60 kg:

1. Namozov, Sherzod (UZB)

2. Khorava, Davyd (UKR)

3. Da silva, Thiego (BRA)

3. Zurabiani, Zurab (GEO)

5. Dzhumagulov, Alikhan (KGZ)

5. Ouldkouider, Ishak (ALG)

7. Zhao, Xu (CHN)

7. Shirinli, Vugar (AZE)

J2 -57 kg

1. Hirose, Junko (JPN)

2. Wang, Jianan (CHN)

3. Arce payno, Marta (ESP)

3. Fedossova, Dayana (KAZ)

5. Kudo, Hiroko (JPN)

5. Brussig, Ramona (GER)

7. Araujo, Lucia (BRA)

J2 -73 kg:

1. Kuranbaev, Uchkun (UZB)

2. Ibanez banon, Sergio (ESP)

3. Kornhass, Nikolai (GER)

3. Seto, Yujiro (JPN)

5. Bareikis, Osvaldas (LTU)

5. Kaldani, Giorgi (GEO)

7. Kim, Donghoon (KOR)

7. Goncalves, Ruben (POR)

DAY TWO RESULTS:

J2 -70 kg:

1. Wang, Yue (CHN)

2. Maldonado, Alana (BRA)

3. Ogawa, Kazusa (JPN)

J1 -57 kg:

1. Shi, Yijie (CHN)

2. Yesilyurt, Dondu (TUR)

3. Manzanero ruiz, Maria (ESP)

3. Havrysiuk, Anzhela (UKR)

5. Cernei, Ina (MDA)

5. Gagne, Priscilla (CAN)

7. Tlekkabyl, Alfiya (KAZ)

7. Poziljonova, Khosiyatkhon (UZB)

J1 -90 kg:

1. Cretul, Oleg (MDA)

2. Powell, Daniel (GBR)

3. Teodori, Valerio romano (ITA)

3. Cimciler, Yasin (TUR)

5. Mislimov, Zakir (AZE)

5. Bicer, Gokhan (TUR)

7. Al-gburi, Taha (IRQ)

7. Abdiev, Turgun (UZB)

J1 -70 kg:

1. Liu, Li (CHN)

2. Boggiano, Nadia Agostina (ARG)

3. Souza de freitas, Brenda (BRA)

3. Lkhaijav, Turuunaa (MGL)

5. Paschalidou, Theodora (GRE)

5. Tsuchiya, Minako (JPN)

7. Uslu hajabipour, Merve (TUR)

7. Taskin, Esmer (TUR)

J1 +90 kg:

1. De Araujo, Wilians (BRA)

2. Tastan, Onur (TUR)

3. Dashtseren, Ganbat (MGL)

3. Grandry, Jason (FRA)

5. Basoc, Ion (MDA)

5. Al-sultani, Murtadha (IRG)

7. Utepov, Yerlan (KAZ)

7. Knegt, Daniel (NED)

J1 +70 kg:

1. Zoaga, Erika (BRA)

2. Garcia, Christella Josette (USA)

3. Akin gunes, Nazan (TUR)

3. Sanabria alcala, Danitza yoccelin (VEN)

5. Ismiyeva, Khatira (AZE)

5. Ergasheva, Feruza (UZB)

7. Siska, Roma (INA)

7. Meng, Yan (CHN)

J2 -90 kg:

1. Karomatov, Davurkhon (UZB)

2. Nazarenko, Oleksandr (UKR)

3. Gogotchuri, Zviad (GEO)

3. Kizilashvili, Lasha (GEO)

5. Casanova, Marcelo (BRA)

5. Amanzhol, Zhanbota (KAZ)

7. Molloy, Evan (GBR)

7. Smagululy, Galymzhan (KAZ)

J2 +70 kg:

1. Hernandez estupinan, Sheyla samarian (CUB)

2. Raifova, Zarina (KAZ)

3. Wang, Hongyu (CHN)

3. Silva, Rebeca (BRA)

5. Leze, Prescillia (FRA)

5. Gazizkyzy, Aidana (KAZ)

7. Davis, Katie (USA)

7. Gosens, Taylor (AUS)

J2 +90 kg:

1. Shukurbekov, Zhurkamyrza (KAZ)

2. Bolukbasi, Ibrahim (TUR)

3. Hodgson, Jack D (GBR)

3. Jurakulov, Aloviddin (UZB)

5. Konkiyev, Yerlan (KAZ)

5. Junior, Sergio (BRA)

7. Tukhtaboev, Islomjon (UZB)