Georgia’s Paralympic champion Zviad Gogotchuri registered his second IBSA Judo World Cup win of 2018 in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, from 9-10 September.

The Georgian moved up to the men’s up to 100kg from the up to 90kg after the Rio 2016 Paralympics and won at the season-opening World Cup in Antalya, Turkey, in April.

In Atyrau on Sunday Gogotchuri responded well to a positive start by Great Britain’s Christopher Skelley in the final. His greater power put Skelley on the back foot.

Eventually the weight of attacks told with the British judoka picking up three shidos to finish with silver, the second World Cup podium of his career.

Speaking after receiving his medal, Skelley said:

“It’s been a good performance today. I had some good fights leading into the final but sadly I lost to a good Georgian. I gave him a good fight just sadly wasn’t my day today.”

Russian world champion Abdula Kuramagomedov shared third with Brazil’s Paralympic silver medallist Antonio Tenorio.

Credit: British Judo

South Korea left with three gold medals in the men’s competition, suggesting they will be a force to be reckoned with at November’s IBSA Judo World Championships in Odivelas, Portugal.

Woohyeok Song led the heavyweights in the men’s over 100kg. Brazil’s Paralympic silver medallist Wilians Araujo proved he is still one of the world’s best, taking silver. Russia’s Gaidar Gaidarov shared third place on the podium with Turkey’s Onur Tastan.

South Korea’s second win came from the other end of the weight categories, in the men’s up to 60kg.

Seungwoo Chun triumphed over Romania’s Florin Alexandru Bologa. Seongjin Jang took bronze, adding another to South Korea’s medal haul. There was delight for hosts Kazakhstan as Olzhas Orazalyuly also joined the medal winners with third.

Hyungho Jung rounded off a trio of medals for the South Koreans in the men’s up to 66kg.
Jung beat Ukraine’s Davyd Khorava to the win. Georgia’s Giorgi Gamjashvili and Kazakhstan’s Azamat Nokushev were third.

Ukrainian judoka also had a strong showing in the men’s, claiming two golds.

Serhii Kotenko won his bout with Lithuania’s Osvaldas Bareikis in the men’s up to 73kg, forcing Bareikis into silver medal position. Kazakhstan’s Asian bronze medallist Termirzhan Daulet joined Spain’s Alvaro Gavilan Lorenzo on the third step of the podium.

In the men’s up to 90kg Oleksandr Nazarenko finished top of the pile. He faced Helios Latchoumanaya for gold, triumphing over the Frenchman. Russian teammates Vladimir Fedin and Malik Kurbanov were third.

Rounding off the men’s results was further success for Russia with a podium one-two in the up to 81kg.

Ruslan Albagachiev was the victor in his gold medal match against Shamil Magomedov. Georgia’s Avtandil Kirkitadze and Ukraine’s Olexandr Kosinov were third.

French Paralympic champion Sandrine Martinet executed an exceptional return to the mat in the women’s up to 48kg.

Previously competing in the up to 52kg where she won gold at Rio 2016, Martinet topped the podium with just two months to go until the 2018 World Championships.

Germany’s Carmen Brussig, the silver medallist from Rio, maintained the same position in Atyrau. Ukraine’s Yuliya Halinska and Turkey’s Ecem Tasin also repeated their Paralympic positions with third.

Ukraine’s Inna Cherniak added her second World Cup gold of 2018 to her haul in the women’s up to 52kg.

Facing off with Paralympic silver medallist Ramona Brussig for first place, Cherniak overcame her German rival for the win. South Korea’s Nayeong Song and Ukraine’s Alesia Stepaniuk claimed third place.

Turkey’s Zeynap Celik was the victor in the women’s up to 57kg, beating South Korea’s Seohyun Kim. Russia’s Natalia Ovchnnikova was third.

Ovchinnikova’s World Championships bronze medallist teammate Olga Pozdnysheva moved Russia up the standings in the women’s up to 63kg.

Pozdnysheva led Brazil’s Lucia Araujo into second. South Korea’s Soyun Kim completed the top three alongside Sweden’s Nicolina Pernheim.

Olga Zabrodskaia doubled Russia’s gold medal count in the women’s, winning the up to 70kg. Turkey’s Raziye Ulucam was second.

Brazil’s Rebeca Silva, France’s Prescillia Leze and Italy’s Michela Peli made up the women’s over 70kg podium in first, second and third respectively.

The 2018 IBSA Judo World Cup in Atyrau was the last major event ahead of the 2018 World Championships. More than 100 judoka from 20 countries competed.

Results are available here.

The 2018 IBSA Judo World Championships will take place from 16-18 November and will offer ranking points towards qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.