The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) has announced the cancellation of the 2020 IBSA Judo Grand Prix in Baku, Azerbaijan, scheduled to take place from 11-12 May, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The event was due to follow the International Judo Federation (IJF) Grand Slam also in Baku, benefitting from the same infrastructure as per the renewed memorandum of understanding signed between the two organisations in 2018.

However on Friday the IJF announced the extension of the suspension of their calendar until the end of June.

IBSA Executive Director Henk van Aller said: “It is of course disappointing to have to cancel another major competition under these circumstances, and we thank the Azerbaijan National Paralympic Committee for their work. However, we support the IJF in their decision and follow the same principles of protecting the health of judokas and the universal unrestricted participation of all countries. It reinforces our own discussions around the viability of the event.

“With the postponement of Tokyo 2020, we are working closely with the International Paralympic Committee on the revised qualification process for the Paralympics and will have more news soon. Athletes therefore do not need to be concerned that they are missing a chance to qualify. Instead, they can focus on staying well whilst following their own government guidelines.

“We will be back, better and stronger than before, once the world has emerged from this unprecedented crisis.”

The IBSA Judo Grand Prix scheduled to take place in Nottingham, Great Britain, from 11-12 April was also cancelled in March.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will take place from 24 August – 5 September 2021.

IBSA will publish more information about the qualification process for IBSA Judo as soon as it is available.