Indonesian para-judoka Junaedi secured a silver medal in the men’s J1 -70kg division at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Monday, October 19. Competing at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall, Junaedi reached the final bout before dropping a quick decision to China’s Zhu Shiwen, who claimed the gold medal via ippon in just 45 seconds, as reported by Antara.
The defeat concluded a determined run through the tournament for Junaedi, who dropped his final match to Zhu after the Chinese competitor immediately seized the initiative. Zhu secured a yuko within the opening five seconds of the match before adding a waza-ari at the 33-second mark. Twelve seconds later, Zhu forced an ippon, ending the contest and settling the final standings in the men’s visually impaired division.
Navigating a Tougher Weight Class in Aichi-Nagoya
The silver medal represents a significant personal milestone for Junaedi following a strategic decision to move to the J1 -70kg category from the J1 -60kg category. Faced with mounting competition in his former weight class, the Indonesian athlete elected to shift divisions to test himself against new opponents on the international stage. In his debut major appearance at the heavier limit, Junaedi navigated through early rounds by defeating Uzbekistan’s Ibrokhimjon Akbarov and India’s Kapil Parmar en route to the final.
SILVER – Para JudoAsian Para Games 2026Junaedi meraih medali perak nomor J1 -70kg putra. Selamat atas prestasinya👏Update: 0-1-4#AsianParaGames #ParaJudo pic.twitter.com/4flNT5Ftlx
Both of Junaedi’s preliminary victories came by way of ippon, highlighting his effectiveness during the opening stages of the competition. Against Akbarov in the quarterfinals and Parmar in the semifinals, the Indonesian competitor utilized decisive throws to secure his spot in the gold medal match before running into Zhu’s rapid attack.
Understanding the J1 Para-Judo Classification Rules
Para-judo competitions are categorized by visual impairment levels, with the J1 classification specifically designated for athletes who experience severe visual impairment. Within these matches, an ippon stands as the ultimate scoring value, instantly concluding the contest when successfully executed by a competitor, as demonstrated in the 45-second final between Zhu and Junaedi.
Despite the swift conclusion to his final bout, Junaedi’s silver medal adds a crucial podium finish to the Indonesian delegation’s tally at the 2026 Asian Para Games. The tournament continues as athletes across remaining classifications complete their respective events in Japan.
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