Six months ago Sergio Ibáñez climbed to the podium with a silver medal at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, recovering the idyll of Spanish judo with the medals at the Paralympic Games. From his debut in Barcelona 1992 to the appointment in the Japanese capital, the harvest has been 20 medals, being the fourth sport – after swimming, athletics and cycling – that has brought more success to Spain. In the last cycle there have been few judokas in international competitions and a generational change was not in sight. However, green shoots begin to bloom with a new batch of young.
It has been reflected in the Spanish Championship held in Villaviciosa de Odón (Madrid), which returned after two years of absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Up to 15 young people participated in the Madrid tatami, bursting with enthusiasm and great enthusiasm. After living together for a few days in a concentration at the High Performance Center, the promises displayed their best actions in the competition.
“Many have a good base and level, they are the future of Spanish Paralympic judo. The concentration went very well, we have been able to meet them and work with them. They have had the opportunity to share training with the most veterans, who are their references. We have had a surprise, we have a group of adolescents who are preparing themselves in inclusive clubs and with whom we can work that relay. They can go far because there is a level”, explained the Spanish coach, Marina Fernández.
Among the proper names stands out that of María Manzanero, who had a hard time beating the Andalusian Ana Gómez, 12 years old and who aims high. The Madrilenian, who in 2019 won a gold at the Heidelberg Tournament (Germany) and a silver at the European Youth Games in Pajulahti (Finland), is one of the federation’s bets. Like Adrián Taboadela, another judoka who has already stood out with several golds in cadet and junior in those same international tests.
The man from Madrid took the bronze in -73 kilos, a category that has the new champion of Spain, Sergio Ibáñez. The Aragonese has been forced to gain weight since his previous class, the -66 kilos with which he won silver in Tokyo, has been eliminated from the Paris 2024 Paralympic program. And in his premiere he left good feelings after winning by shido to his partner Álvaro Gavilán -world bronze- in a close combat.
Also in senior in -60 kilos there was a very even duel between the two referents, Borja Pahissa from Huelva and Daniel Gavilán from Madrid, with victory for the latter. Two of the most successful Spanish judokas were not in the championship, Marta Arce from Valladolid -silver in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 and bronze in London 2012- for personal reasons and Carmen Herrera from Malaga -gold medalist in three Games- because they canceled its category in the absence of competitors.
This month, the Spanish team will travel to Alexandria (Egypt) to play the first international tournament of the season. María Fernández has summoned for this occasion Daniel Gavilán, Borja Pahissa, Sergio Ibáñez, Álvaro Gavilán, María Manzanero and Adrián Taboadela. The Grand Prix of Antalya (Turkey) in April will be the first to score points for the qualifying ranking for the Paralympic Games. The European will be held in September in Cagliari (Italy) and the World Cup in November in Baku (Azerbaijan).
