IBSA World Championships in Astana: Thrilling Day One as Titles and New Surprises Emerge

Astana, Kazakhstan - The 2025 IBSA World Championships kicked off in style yesterday with a gripping Day One, where 10 categories were decided, including three demonstration events that showcased emerging talent.

In the men's J1M category over 70 kg, Romanian Paralympic champion Florin Alexandru Bologa claimed his first world title by overwhelming top seed Dong Dong Capanni of Italy in just under an hour and a half. The dominant performance earned him the gold medal, while Dong secured silver and bronze went to Hyeonbin Kim and Viktor Rudenko.

Meanwhile, Georgian top seed Saba Bagdavadze stormed through to his second consecutive world title in the men's J1M category over 81 kg with a flawless display, winning both of his contests by ippon. Brazil's Danilo Geronimo Silva claimed silver, while Yergali Shamey and Cyril Jonard secured bronze.

In the women's J2M category under 70 kg, Georgian Giorgi Kaldani rose to prominence, edging out top seed Tetsuya Sakura of Japan in a closely contested final. This triumph marked Kaldani's first world title.

The men's J1W category under 52 kg also witnessed action-packed matches as Turkish judoka Ecem Tasin Cavdar took down top-seeded Natalia Potapova (NPA) en route to the semi-finals. Brazil's Rosicleide De Andrade emerged victorious in the final, claiming her first world title.

The women's J2W category under 60 kg saw Daria Stakanova secure gold with a commanding display against Hiroko Kudo of Japan.

Demonstration events, showcasing new categories, captivated audiences. Venezuelan Marcos Dennis Blanco claimed the first-ever world title in the J1M category over 64 kg, while Aminat Omarova (NPA) was crowned the winner of the inaugural women's J1W category under 46 kg. In contrast, Thai Pensiri Sumon stole the show by claiming a gold medal victory in the newly introduced J2W category under 46 kg.

As action unfolds on Day Two, fans are eagerly anticipating thrilling competitions and possible upsets. Stay tuned for live streaming of individual categories on the IBSA Judo YouTube channel.