The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Judo World Championships will be shown live on Facebook and YouTube from Odivelas, Portugal, between 16-18 November.

As well as the titles on offer, the competition marks the start of the qualification process for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Athletes will be able to secure points towards the world rankings, which will determine who will go to the Paralympics.

Every moment of Odivelas 2018 will be shown on IBSA Judo’s Facebook page and IBSA’s YouTube channel from 10am (CET) each day.

The Worlds are expected to attract nearly 300 judoka from more than 30 countries. These include a huge number of world, regional and Paralympic champions.

France’s Sandrine Martinet won gold in the women’s up to 52kg at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, adding to her silver from Beijing 2008 and Athens 2004. Now competing in the up to 48kg, Martinet secured first place on her return to the mat at the IBSA Judo World Cup in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, in September.

In the women’s up to 70kg Lenia Ruvalcaba has been in great form since claiming the Paralympic title two years ago, also bagging a regional title. The Mexican will be hoping to improve on her bronze medal from the last World Championships in 2014 in Colorado Springs, USA. 

Zviad Gogotchuri won Georgia’s first Paralympic medal with gold in the men’s up to 90kg in Rio. In 2018 he will compete in the up to 100kg against a stacked field including South Korea’s Paralympic title holder Gwang Geun Choi.

Uzbekistan have two Rio 2016 gold medallists in the men’s – Sherzod Namozov in the up to 60kg and Utkirjon Nigmatov in the up to 66kg.

Sherzod Namozov holds the Uzbekistan flag on his judo-gi after winning gold at Rio 2016. Credit: OIS Photos.

Media accreditation for Odivelas 2018 is available by contacting [email protected].

The IBSA Judo World Championships take place every four years. As well as regional Championships, the sport also provides a World Cup circuit.

In 2019 an additional competition will be held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA. The 2019 IBSA Judo and Goalball International Qualifier will offer judoka the chance to collect points towards the world rankings for Tokyo 2020.