All set in Jekpe-Jek Hall, in Nur-Sultan, for IBSA Judo Grand Prix Kazakhstan! The draw has been know and the matches for day 1 are defined. The public ceremony was held in Park Inn Hotel and was attended by Eren Yildirim, IBSA Board Member; János Tardos, IBSA Judo Chairman; Diyar Seitov, Event Manager; and Henk Plugge, IBSA Judo Referee Director.

Mr. Yildirim welcomed all the judokas and participants in the event and added: “I wish all the judokas and participants all the success and a competition without injuries. In IBSA, we want to be working closer to each athlete and all the members.”

Mr. Tardos underlined other aspects regarding the new stage of the sport: “We are living a very new period in IBSA Judo history. After Tokyo, International Paralympic Committee decided a new division for blind and visual impaired judokas and that’s why we created J1 and J2 classes, to fight separately. Following the new classes, we have new weight categories, new medal events. In Paris, we will have 16 medal events, and we believe that the fights will be fairer than earlier. Finally, we have an equal situation between men and women, with the same number of weight categories for both. I also like to thanks to International Judo Federation, which gave us more support, not only financial but with staff, referees, and any kind of knowledge as well.”

The competition will start shortly (10am, Nur-Sultan time) and you can stay tuned in all the action in IBSA YouTube channel in the following links (for day 1):

Tatami 1

Tatami 2

The draw ceremony can be watch in the video below.