Historic gold for Moldova at IBSA Judo World Championships

Para judoka Ion Basoc has become Moldova's first world champion in the sport after winning gold at the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, from 25-27 September. Basoc finally got revenge in the men's +95kg J1 over his long-time rival, Brazilian Wilians Silva de Araújo, who had snatched the gold from his grasp at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and also beat him at last year’s Worlds.

Basoc was named Moldova's top Paralympic athlete at a ceremony in March and is setting his sights on qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. 

Brazil still had plenty to celebrate in Tbilisi, picking up three Para judo golds among an extensive 12-medal medal haul. Alongside the three world titles, they claimed five silver and two bronze in the individual events, plus a further two bronze medals in the team competition. 

Mighty Maldonado leads the way

The South American nation's success was led once again by powerhouse Alana Maldonado, who won her fourth world title in the women’s -70 kg J2 category. She upset Kazakhstan's Ayala Mereke to secure top spot on the podium. 

Maldonado won back-to-back Paralympic golds at Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020, as well as silver in her home Games at Rio 2016. 

"Well, first of all, I want to thank everyone who cheered for me, everyone who was with me on this journey,” Maldonado said. 

“This achievement isn't just mine; it's a team effort. I'm very happy with the result.” 

Brazilian teammate and fellow Paralympic champion Arthur Cavalcante da Silva upstaged defending world champion Dan Powell in the men’s -95kg J1 category in a repeat of the Paris 2024 gold medal final. 

Silva was ecstatic about the victory. 

“It's my first gold medal in a World Championship. I came close several times, but it finally happened. It's a joy, a feeling of duty fulfilled, of a fresh start,” he said. 

It’s been a tough year for Powell, who had been mulling over whether to retire from the sport, but he said making the final meant a lot. 

“There have certainly been times when I have felt past my best within the last year, but the performance I put on this Saturday has made me realise I am certainly still up there. Sometimes you just need to get back to what you’re good at, which for me is simply being an absolute fighter!” he posted on Facebook. 

“There may be people better at judo out there than me, but there ain’t many people who are willing to go to war like I am. Couldn’t do this without my team!” 

Brazil's third gold came courtesy of Brenda Freitas, who defended her title in the women’s -70 kg J1 category, beating China's Wang Wenjing. 

Freitas is a Paris 2024 silver medallist and admitted her preparation for the Worlds was not ideal. 

"The feeling is great,” Freitas told the Brazilian Confederation of Sports for the Visually Impaired. 

 “I've been training a lot and, the week before coming here, I felt very ill, so I was quite worried. I arrived here nervous, but I managed to do what I've been training for. I'm very, very happy about that.” 

The 31-year-old is now focused on qualifying for the next Paralympic Games. 

“Another unforgettable chapter of my story... Thank you to everyone who is with me on this journey and believes in me. This conquest is ours!” she wrote on Instagram.  
 
“The dream goes on and on!! LA bound.” 

China dominate women's events

China claimed three gold medals across the women’s individual events, with Paris 2024 gold medallist Yijie Shi winning the -60 kg J1  category, Chunfang Tian winning the +70 kg J1 category and Yi Liu triumphing in the -52 kg J2 contest. 

In the team competition, there were victories for the Chinese women’s team and Georgian men’s team against the Neutral Paralympic Athletes men’s and women’s teams.  

The World Championships featured 290 competitors from 44 countries, a significant milestone on the road to the LA2028 Paralympics.