Sherzod Namozov

Since bursting onto the international scene judo in 2014, Sherzod Namozov has become the man to beat in the men’s up to 60kg.

However, Algeria’s Ishak Ouldkouider sprang a major surprise and defeated the seemingly invincible Uzbek at the 2018 World Championships in Odivelas, Portugal. Namozov had to settle for bronze after beating China’s Xu Zhao.

Before that, he had won the World Cup title in Antalya, Turkey.

In 2016, Namozov was one of three Uzbekistani judokas to seal gold at Rio 2016, helping the country finish top of the sport’s medal table.

On his Paralympic debut he defeated Uruguay’s Parapan American champion Henry Borges, Azerbaijan’s Ramin Ibrahimov and Japan’s Hirose Makoto, all by ippon, to take the top spot of the podium.

Namozov’s first major achievement was the bronze medal he claimed at the 2014 World Championships in Colorado Springs, USA.

That same year, he won the Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea, and followed that up with another gold at a World Cup in Eger, Hungary, in 2015.