Uzbekistan top the individual medals table with seven golds in Atyrau

Six of Uzbek para judokas took to the mat for titles as all of them claimed medals and improved their place in the world rankings on the road to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

A top quality field in the men’s over 100kg was topped by Uzbekistan’s World Championships bronze medallist Shirin Sharipov. The Paralympic title holder from the up to 100kg, Sharipov then had to face the world champion for gold. Iran’s Mohammadreza Kheirollahzadeh was hoping to double-up on his win from the 2018 Worlds but Sharipov had other ideas, edging him out.

In the men’s up to 81kg Davurkhon Karomatov claimed Uzbekistan’s latest win ahead of Japan’s Aramitsu Kitazono. Uzbekistan’s final men’s gold came courtesy of Sharif Khalilov in the up to 100kg.
The gold rush continued for Uzbekistan in the women’s with a further three golds. Savinch Salaeva successfully defended her title in the up to 52kg ahead of China’s Yanqing Li. Thailand’s Methini Wongchomphu was third.

Vasila Aliboeva also secured her second consecutive Asian gold in the up to 70kg. China’s Ping Wang took silver.

Parvina Samandarova completed Uzbekistan’s haul in the up to 57kg. Indonesia’s Melinda Artia Garini was second.

Uzbekistan topped the individual medals table with seven golds from men’s and women’s competitions across Friday and Saturday.