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.

Y

South Korea’s Yunho Kim is a relative newcomer who has already made a big impact. The 22-year-old will make his World Championships debut in Odivelas as the Asian champion in the men’s up to 81kg.

Ukraine’s Yuliya Halinska won her third European title in 2017 to follow on from her bronze at the Rio 2016 Paralympics in the women’s up to 48kg.

Credit: OIS Photos

Z

Georgia’s Zviad Gogotchuri competed in the men’s up to 90kg at Rio 2016 and won gold on his debut. He now competes in the up to 100kg where he has already topped the podium twice at World Cups in 2018.

Azerbaijan’s Ilham Zakiyev was inducted into the International Judo Federation Hall of Fame in 2018. He claimed Paralympic gold at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 before securing bronze at London 2012. He did not make the podium in Rio but one year later was back to his best, winning his sixth consecutive European title 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].