The opening day of judo at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games saw five of the following categories in action at the Arena Champ-de-Mars: J1-48kg, J2 -48kg, J1 -60kg, J2 -60kg and J1 -57kg. Europe won a total of seven medals.
Ukrainian judoka Nataliya Nikolaychyk (UKR) claimed victory in the J1 -48kg category, defeating Japan’s Hangai Shizuka in the final. The 37-year-old marked the third Paralympic medal of her career after winning bronze in London and Tokyo. Nikolaychyk gave a strong performance that proved to be too much for her opponents to handle. She won the final by first scoring a waza-ari and later finishing with a decisive ippon. Within the same category, Ecem Taşın (TUR) shone with a bronze medal finish.
The J1 -60kg category ended without a European medal but with an impressive performance from eventual gold medallist Abdelkader Bouamer (ALG). In the J1 -57kg category, Anzhela Havrysiuk (UKR) produced a commendable display of skill and determination to secure a bronze medal. Akmaral Nauatbek (KAZ) stole the show from Sandrine Martinet (FRA) in the final of the J2 -48kg category. The Frenchwoman was the centre of attention for much of the day and a silver celebration marked the end of her time in Paris, adding to her already impressive collection of Paralympic medals (gold Rio 2016, silver Tokyo 2020). Europe also picked up another bronze medal in this category, courtesy of Cahide Eke (TUR). Lastly, the gold was at the fingertips of Zurab Zurabiani (GEO) who reached the final of the J2 -60kg category, where he faced Rio 2016 Paralympic champion, Sherzod Namozov (UZB). In a heated contest, Zurabiani had to settle for silver. Joining him in celebration was bronze medallist, Davyd Khorava (UKR).
Since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a new tradition has taken root: the ‘Trois coups’ (The Three Knocks) are sounded before the start of each event, echoing the classic theater gesture that signals the actors’ entrance on stage. Every competition day in Paris begins with these three knocks, given by a notable figure from the world of sports or entertainment. This morning, it was Romane Dicko who had the honour of initiating the Paralympic tournament.
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Images: IJF / Emanuele Di Feliciantonio / Content: Nicolas Messner
Author: Szandra Szogedi