Dubai: Judo is one of the high-profile sports in the UAE with plenty of medal expectations at the Paris Olympics.
The six-member UAE judokas are under immense pressure to live up to these expectations, which increased after they won three medals at the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year.
Sergio Toma gave the UAE its second Olympic medal, clinching bronze in judo during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
“There is pressure for sure because judo is one of the main sports in the radar for winning medals in the Olympic Games. So this time it’s no different. The level of the six judokas is very high, which increases expectations. But they have the experience and expertise to handle the pressure on the big stage,” Nasser Al Tamimi, General Secretary of the UAE Wrestling and Judo Federation, told Gulf News.
Intensive training for Paris
The six judokas, Narmandakh Bayanmunkh (under 66kg), Nugzari Tatalashvili (under 81kg), Aram Grigorian (under 90kg), Dzhafar Kostoev (under 100kg), Magomedomar Magomedomarov (over 100kg), and Bishrelt Khorloodoi (under 52kg in women’s lightweight), are undergoing intensive training.
“They’ve started the preparations for the Olympic Games immediately after the World Championship in Abu Dhabi. They have been gearing up since the past month. They are physically in good shape, and now they will begin the mental preparations, which includes a targeted approach to winning medals in Paris,” Al Tamimi said.
Surpassing expectations
The UAE judokas surpassed their own expectations during the Asian Games, winning one gold and two bronze medals, underlining their supremacy in the continental championship. The haul helped the UAE secure a total of 20 medals, including five gold, five silver, and ten bronze, marking the nation’s highest-ever medal tally in the history of the quadrennial event.
Magomedomarov won the Asian Games gold after defeating Tajikistan’s Temur Rakhimov in the 100kg final, winning by ippon in four minutes. Aram Grigorian (90kg) and Dzhafar Kostoev (100kg) bagged the bronze in Hangzhou. A gold medallist at both the European Open in Cluj-Napoca and the Islam Solidarity Games in Turkey, Magomedomarov continued his impressive run in Hangzhou.
High hopes for Paris
Among the six, Al Tamimi says they are confident of at least four medals during the Paris Games.
“The UAE judokas have been winning medals in Grand Slam, Grand Prix, and Asian Championships. So most of them are in the top rankings in the world. All six have qualified for the Olympics with very high points. So we have hopes in Magomedomarov (over 100kg), Dzhafar (under 100kg), Bayanmunkh (under 66kg), and Khorloodoi (under 52kg women),” he added.
Khorloodoi won the Asian Championships Individuals 2024 gold in April and followed it up with a last 16 effort in the Abu Dhabi World Championships Seniors 2024 Individuals on May. She finished fifth in the Tashkent Grand Slam in May this year. Bayanmunkh finished with a bronze medal in the Paris Grand Slam in February and followed it up with a seven position in the Antalya Grand Slam in March.
Broader UAE Olympic participation
The athletes will compete in equestrian, judo, cycling, swimming, and athletics. The national equestrian team participating in the show jumping competition includes Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi, Abdullah Al Marri, Omar Al Marzouqi, Salem Al Suwaidi, and Ali Al Karbi, with four of them to be selected for final participation by the technical staff.
Cyclist Safia Al Sayegh will compete in the road race at the Paris Olympic Games, being the first Emirati female cyclist to qualify for the Olympics. Swimmer Yousef Rashid Al Matroushi will compete in the 100-metre freestyle, and swimmer Maha Abdullah Al Shehi will compete in the 200-metre freestyle. Runner Maryam Mohammed Al Farsi will compete in the 100-metre race.
A legacy of Olympic success
The UAE is participating in the Olympic Games for the 11th time, having started its participation in the 23rd edition in Los Angeles in 1984. Since then, the UAE has been continuously present in the Olympic Games up to the last edition in Tokyo in 2020.
In the 2004 Athens Olympics, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hasher Al Maktoum won the gold medal in double trap shooting, giving the UAE its first Olympic medal before Toma’s bronze.
As the UAE continues to target more medals, the judokas are ready to pull their weight.
The six judokas:
Bishrelt Khorloodoi (under 52kg in women’s lightweight).
Age: 26
World ranking: 11
Narmandakh Bayanmunkh (under 66kg)
Age: 24
World ranking: 14
Magomedomar Magomedomarov (over 100kg)
World ranking: 15
Age: 23
Nugzari Tatalashvili (under 81kg)
Age: 34
World ranking: 17
Dzhafar Kostoev (under 100kg)
Age: 25
Ranking: 18
Aram Grigorian (under 90kg)
Age: 26
World ranking: 34
