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.

T

Turkey’s Mesme Tasbag made her Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 and secured an incredible bronze in the women’s over 70kg. It came after a European title in 2015 which she followed up with another regional silver one year ago.

U

Utkirjon Nigmatov of Uzbekistan is on the hunt for his first world title in the men’s up to 66kg. The 28-year-old is one of the favourites as the Paralympic champion. Nigmatov has been in winning form again in 2018, most recently claiming gold at the 2018 Asian Para Games.

Credit OIS Photos

V

Azerbaijan’s Sevda Valiyeva is the reigning women’s up to 52kg European champion at the tender age of 20. Look out for the youngster who has also reached the podium in 2018 with silver at the World Cup in Antalya, Turkey. Odivelas will be her World Championships debut.

W
Wilians Araujo is part of a team of 15 Brazilian judoka heading to Odivelas 2018 and one of his country’s finest. Araujo is a World Championships bronze and Paralympic silver medallist in the men’s over 100kg.

The 2018 IBSA Judo World Championships will feature nearly 300 of the world’s best judoka from more than 40 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].