The 2018 International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Judo World Championships will get underway in Odivelas, Portugal, from 16-18 November.

It is the biggest competition on the calendar and also an opportunity to grab qualification points for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

All competitions will be shown live at IBSA’s YouTube channel and IBSA Judo’s Facebook page.

IBSA Judo is giving fans an insight into some of the athletes competing by describing at least one for each letter of the alphabet in an A-Z series.

A
Antonio Tenorio’s list of achievements spans back to 1996 when he made his Paralympic debut in Atlanta, USA, winning gold in the men’s up to 86kg. Since then the Brazilian has gone on to medal at every single edition, including silver in the men’s up to 100kg at his home Games in Rio – and incredible 20 years after his first medal.

A rival to Tenorio, Russia’s Abdula Kuramagomedov is the defending champion in the men’s up to 100kg from 2014.  The Russian did compete in the over 100kg at the European Championships in Walsall, Great Britain, in 2017 and reached third, but returned to the lower weight category in 2018. Since then he has reached the podium at two World Cups.

Competing in the men’s up to 66kg, Kazakhstan’s Azamat Turumbetov is a face to watch out for in Odivelas. Turumbetov recently claimed silver at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, and is also an IBSA Judo Asian Championships silver medallists from last year.

B

Carmen Brussig is one of Germany’s most prolific judoka, finishing on the podium at nearly all major Championships and Paralympic Games since her debut in the late 90s. Brussig competes in the women’s up to 48kg and this season has shown her podium form once again by securing two silvers at World Cups.

One cannot mention Carmen Brussig without also including her twin sister Ramona. The younger sibling also has an impressive record on the international stage. Ramona is the Paralympic champion from London 2012 and silver medallist from 2016 in the women’s up to 52kg. In 2018 she will try and improve on her silver from four years ago.

C

Not content with her world and Paralympic title from the women’s up to 57kg from the last cycle, Ukraine’s Inna Cherniak began competing in the up to 52kg in late 2017.
Since making the switch the 30-year-old has been unstoppable, winning at three World Cups.

About #Odivelas2018

The 2018 IBSA Judo World Championships will feature nearly 300 of the world’s best judoka from more than 30 countries.

As well as the livestream, live coverage will be available at IBSA Judo’s Twitter and Instagram.

Media accreditation is available by contacting [email protected]