Spanish judoka Sergio Ibáñez captured the bronze medal in the -70 kg J2 class at the opening day of the Paralympic Judo World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, securing a decisive victory over Japan’s Sakurai on Friday. The tournament marks a major milestone for Ibáñez following his return from surgery after the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Path to the Podium in Tbilisi
Competing in the J2 category for athletes with visual impairment, the Zaragoza native dominated his opponent on the tatami to claim the third-place finish by ippon.
The podium finish continues a steady comeback for Ibáñez, who earned a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Following the Paris 2024 Games, he underwent surgery before returning to international competition last year at the Giza Grand Prix, where he also collected a bronze medal. He mirrored that result in July at São Paulo before capturing the European title in Heidelberg, Germany.
Spanish Success on Day One
Ibáñez was not the only Spanish athlete to secure a medal during Friday’s opening session in Tbilisi. Madrid’s María Manzanero also claimed a bronze medal in the J1 -52 kg category for blind athletes. After dropping her semifinal match, Manzanero bounced back to defeat Canada’s Priscilla Gagné, using a crucial Yuko score to maintain her lead until the end of regulation time.
At 22 years old, Manzanero secured her first world championship medal following a lengthy recovery from a cruciate ligament operation. Like Ibáñez, she entered the world championships on strong form after winning gold at the European Championships in Heidelberg.
Team Composition and Outlook
The Spanish delegation in Tbilisi features a broad roster across multiple weight classes, including Rodrigo Suárez (J1 +95 kg), Íñigo Gerbolés (J2 -95 kg), Norberto Tuñón (J1 -81 kg), Omar Tohuami (J1 -70 kg), María Campos (J2 +70 kg), Elsa Lukun Hernández (J1 -52 kg), and Álvaro Gavilán (J2 -81 kg). The coaching staff includes Marina Fernández, the judo technician of the Spanish Federation for the Blind, alongside former international medalists Raúl Díaz and Estrella López.
Beyond the individual tournaments, the Spanish squad is set to compete in the team event in Tbilisi. This marks the country’s return to the team competition at a world championship after having recovered this modality in the European Championship of Heidelberg, ending an eight-year absence from the team discipline.
