Day 2 and the last one of the 2024 IBSA Judo Grand Prix Heidelberg at the SNP Dome, with spotlights on the J1 class for the Brazilian men’s duet with Arthur da Silva (-90kg) and Wilians de Araújo (J1 +90kg), and on the category -70kg for the Chinese duet with Li Liu (J1) and Yue Wang (J2).

All of them conquered the respective gold medals and fortified their positions at the Paralympic Ranking List (PRL) on their Road to Paris.

In the first final of the day, Arthur da Silva, already leader of the PRL, defeated the French blind and deaf judoka Cyril Jonard, currently out of the qualification spots but surely climbing some relevant positions after the stage in Heidelberg.

The path was open for his countryman, Wilians de Araújo, also an indisputable leader in his category, who defeated Ion Basoc from Moldova.

Still in the Brazilian sector, Alana Maldonado, the current Paralympic and World Champion, made her return to competition after almost one year of absence due to an injury suffered in the 2023 IBSA Judo Grand Prix Alexandria, Egypt, in March last year. Making her comeback, Alana got the silver medal, defeated in the final by the Chinese Yue Wang.

In the women’s competition, besides the golden Chinese judoka mentioned, there were two special notes. One for the Cuban athlete Sheyla Hernandez, who won gold in the last edition of the Para Pan American Games in Santiago de Chile, crossed the Atlantic Ocean to claim the silver medal and the real chance to become 2nd in the PRL, currently owned by the Italian Carolina Costa, who missed this stage in Heidelberg.

The second note worth mentioning goes to Uzbekh Uljon Amrieva, currently out of the qualification spots. The gold medal was achieved in the final with the Chinese Yijie Shi (2nd PRL), who will get important points for her Road to Paris.

The next stop will be Turkiye for the 2024 IBSA Judo Grand Prix Antalya, in the first days of April, last but one stage before the end of the Road to Paris, in Tiblisi.

Check out the results of Day 2:

Men
J1 -90kg
1st – Arthur da Silva (BRA)
2nd – Cyril Jonard (FRA)
3rd – Oleg Cretul (MDA)
3rd – Daniel Powell (GRB)

J1 +90kg
1st – Wilians de Araújo (BRA)
2nd – Ion Basoc (MDA)
3rd – Daniel Knegt (NED)
3rd – Ilham Zakiyev (AZE)

J2 -90kg
1st – Davurkhon Karomatov (UZB)
2nd – Lasha Kizilashvili (GEO)
3rd – Helios Latchoumanaya (FRA)
3rd – Oleksandr Nazarenko (UKR)

J2 +90kg
1st – Vahid Nouri (IRI)
2nd – Ibrahim Bolukbasi (TUR)
3rd – Jack Hodgson (GRB)
3rd – Zhurkamyrza Shukurbekov (KAZ)

Women
J1 -57kg
1st – Uljon Amrieva (UZB)
2nd – Yijie Shi (CHN)
3rd – Priscilla Gagne (CAN)
3rd – Paula Gomez (ARG)

J1 -70kg
1st – Li Liu (CHN)
2nd – Brenda de Souza (BRA)
3rd – Turuunaa Lkhaijav (MGL)
3rd – Theodora Paschalidou (GRE)

J1 +70kg
1st – Anastasiia Harnyk (UKR)
2nd – Nazan Akin Gunes (TUR)
3rd – Christella Garcia (USA)
3rd – Roma Siska (INA)

J2 -70kg
1st – Yue Wang (CHN)
2nd – Alana Maldonado (BRA)
3rd – Ayala Mereke (KAZ)
3rd – Kazusa Ogawa (JPN)

J2 +70kg
1st – Zerina Raifova (KAZ)
2nd – Sheyla Hernandez (CUB)
3rd – Mokhinur Parmonova (UZB)
3rd – Rebeca Silva (BRA)

Photo credit: Ralf Kuckuck/DBS