Dubai: UAE’s Aram Grigorian lost in the repechage of the under-90kg judo in the Paris Olympics on Wednesday. The Asian Games bronze medallist, who lost in the quarter-finals, lost to Greek Theodoros Tselidis by ippon to bring his campaign to an end, in a contest that lasted 5:16 minutes.
The 31-year-old started on a positive note when he defeated defending Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Davlat Bobonov of Uzbekistan 10-0 by Ippon in 2:09 minutes in the Round of 32 contest and defeated Swede Marcus Nyman 10-0 by ippon in 3:49 minutes in the round of 16.
However, the Asian Games bronze medallist could not repeat his earlier acts and lost to 23-year-old Japanese 2024 Asian Judo Championships gold winner Sanshiro Murao in the quarter-finals, which gave him another chance to have a tilt at a bronze medal in the repechage.
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. In the 2004 Athens Olympics, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hasher Al Maktoum won the gold medal in the double trap shooting, while Sergio Toma clinched the bronze in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Showjumping quartet
The equestrian team, which will participate in the show jumping, includes Abdullah Al Marri, Asian Games Omar Al Marzooqi, Ali Al Kirbi and Salem Al Suwaidi. Omar, the UAE's flag-bearer, had won the Asian Games silver, raising hopes in the Paris Games, while the team won bonze, taking the showjumping tally to three in Hangzhou last year.
UAE’s another judo medal hopes Dzhafar Kostoev in the under 100kg and the UAE show jumping team, who won the bronze in the Asian Championships, will be in action on Thursday. Omar Abdul Aziz Al Mazrooqi carries UAE’s hopes after his silver medal in the Asian Games, while Asian Games gold medallist Magomedomar Magomedomarov (over 100kg) is another top hope along with cyclist Safia Al Sayegh and sprinter Mariam Mohammed Al Farsi.
UAE athletes have not been successful so far, despite some impressive performances. Swimmer Yousuf Al Matrooshi lost in the 100-metre freestyle heats despite clocking his career best on Tuesday, while in judo, Nugzari Tatalashvili lost in the under 81kg round of 32, losing to Puerto Rican Adrian Gandia in the other action on Tuesday.
Other UAE contestants
Al Matrooshi is part of a 14-member UAE contingent who are taking part in five sports: showjumping, judo, swimming, cycling, and athletics.
The UAE athletes, especially the judokas, were not able to reprise their recent form after Bishrelt Khorloodoi, who had won the Asian Championships gold, lost in the round of 16 in the 52kg women’s lightweight category on Sunday. Khorloodoi lost to German Mascha Ballhaus 0-11, while Narmandakh Bayanmunkh (under 66kg), another of UAE’s top medal prospects, lost to South Korea’s An Ba-ul 0-10 in the round of 32.
Swimmer Maha AlShehi finished fifth in the 200-metre freestyle heats behind India’s 14-year-old Dhinidhi Desinghu. The 18-year-old Olympic debutant finished ahead of another Saudi Arabian teenager, Mashael Meshar A Alayed.
