The IBSA Judo Grand Prix Baku 2019 concluded its international parajudo competition on May 14, 2019, following a two-day event held under the motto “The Triumph of the Spirit” in Baku, Azerbaijan, according to reports from AzerNews. Bringing together 223 parajudokas from 35 countries, the tournament served as a crucial qualifying stop for athletes seeking licensing points for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Medical examinations conducted ahead of the competition resulted in 11 athletes being barred from participation. Out of the remaining 212 competing parajudokas, 150 were male and 62 were female athletes. The extensive event delegations included 143 additional personnel, consisting of 18 international judges, 6 international doctors, 7 technical staff members, and 112 support staff.
Competitions across the 13 weight categories featured 52 total medal sets. For the men, bouts were contested in the -60kg, -66kg, -73kg, -90kg, -100kg, and +100kg divisions. Women competed in the -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63kg, -70kg, and +70kg weight classes. Of the 35 participating nations, representatives from 20 countries secured podium finishes and returned home with medals.
Host nation Azerbaijan fielded a 21-person squad consisting of 11 men and 10 women. National athletes captured 3 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze medals, yielding a total of 11 awards that placed Azerbaijan first in the overall medal count. The host nation’s medal breakdown included 1 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze from the men’s team, alongside 2 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals from the women’s team.
Uzbekistan finished second in the overall medal standings with 8 total medals while claiming the top spot in the gold-medal table with 4 titles. Azerbaijan followed as the second-most successful nation in gold medals with 3, while Ukraine secured third place in the gold standings with 1 title. Russia ranked third in overall medal count with 5 total awards.
Financial prizes were awarded to podium finishers across all weight classes, with first-place winners receiving $1,000. Second-place finishers earned $500, while third-place athletes collected $300.
Organizational and institutional backing for the Baku tournament came from the International Blind Sports Federation, the International Judo Federation, the National Olympic Committee, the Azerbaijan Judo Federation, the Azerbaijan Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population. Corporate and institutional partners included SOCAR, BP, Toyota, Bakcell, Coca-Cola, Shams Group, the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports, and the Baku Transport Agency.
Subsequent updates regarding parajudo qualification rankings and upcoming international events can be tracked through official governing body portals and the tournament’s dedicated information page at BakuGP.paralympic.az.
Keep reading
_-_Wang_Yue.jpg){kind=link}