María Manzanero y Sergio Ibáñez se colgaron el 25 de septiembre la medalla de bronce en la primera jornada del Mundial de Judo Paralímpico que se disputa en Tbilisi (Georgia). Both athletes delivered standout performances across their respective categories to claim podium finishes for the Spanish delegation.
Manzanero Claims First World Championship Medal in Tbilisi
Competing in the J1 -52kg division, Madrid native María Manzanero captured her first career world championship medal at just 22 years old. After dropping her semifinal bout, Manzanero rebounded in the bronze-medal match against Canada’s Priscilla Gagné. A crucial Yuko score provided the decisive advantage, which she defended successfully until the final whistle of regulation time.
The triumph in Georgia caps a remarkable competitive comeback for Manzanero. Just over a month prior, she won the European title in Heidelberg, Germany, following a string of three international circuit medals. Those successes came in the wake of a anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction that sidelined her from competition for several months.
Reflecting on her breakthrough performance, Manzanero celebrated alongside Marina Fernández, the judo coach for the Spanish Federation for the Blind (FEDC).
Ibáñez Battles Through Eliminations to Secure Bronze by Ippon
Roughly an hour after Manzanero’s victory, teammate Sergio Ibáñez took to the tatami in the J2 -70kg category. Following a physically demanding morning elimination round, the Zaragoza competitor faced Japan’s Sakurai in the bronze-medal contest. Ibáñez dominated the bout and sealed the victory by Ippon, drawing enthusiastic applause from the packed stands where fellow members of the Spanish national team watched.
Ibáñez arrived in Tbilisi carrying a decorated international resume, highlighted by a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Following the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Ibáñez underwent knee surgery. His return to the mat began a year prior with a bronze medal at the Giza Grand Prix, followed by another bronze in São Paulo last July and a continental crown in Heidelberg alongside Manzanero.
Broader Spanish Campaign and Upcoming Bouts
The opening day of the Tbilisi tournament also saw action from several other Spanish competitors. Marta Arce (J2 -60kg), young prospect Elsa Lukun Hernández (J1 -52kg), Omar Tohuami (J1 -70kg), and Norberto Tuñón (J1 -81kg) all exited the competition during the preliminary and repechage rounds.
Competition at the World Championships continues with a second day featuring Spanish entries Íñigo Gerbolés (J2 -95kg), María Campos (J2 +70kg), Rodrigo Suárez (J1 +95kg), and Álvaro Gavilán (J2 -81kg). The tournament concludes on Sunday with the team competition, a discipline to which the national squad returned at the Heidelberg European Championships following an eight-year hiatus.
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