Double Medal Delight for GB Judo at the Paralympic Games
A Silver medal from Dan Powell and a Bronze medal from Chris Skelley saw GB Judo claim two medals on the penultimate day of the Paralympic Games.
At the Paris Paralympic Games, Dan Powell, competing in his third Games, won his first Paralympic medal by taking silver in the J1 -90kg category.
Powell has been in scintillating form this Paris cycle, winning nine medals in his past nine competitions before the Games, so headed into the competition as one of the most in-form judoka in the competition.
The Liverpudlian entered the competition seeded 3rd and defeated Mousa Gholamishafia (IRI) in the Quarter-Final following an opening round bye.
In the closing moments of the contest, Powell pinned his opponent for ippon score to progress to the Semi-Finals in a contest that was a repeat of the 2023 World Championship final.
Cyril Jonard (FRA) stood between Powell and a place in the Paris 2024 Paralympic final. The Frenchman got the better of Powell that day and it was another mammoth battle between the pair in front of a raucous home crowd.
There was nothing between the pair as the contest neared Golden Score, but with 4-seconds remaining Powell looked to have won, however, upon review the score was waived off and the contest entered Golden Score.
Powell was awarded two shidos in quick succession before silencing the home crowd with a soto-makikomi for waza-ari score in the eighth minute of the contest.
The result progressed Powell to the final to face world number one Arthur Cavalcante da Silva (BRA).
The final was a cagey affair with both judoka cancelling out each other’s attacks. As the contest neared the final minute, Cavalcante da Silva threw Powell with a ko-soto-gari for a waza-ari score, before transitioning into newaza to pin Powell for an ippon.
The result saw Powell better the result of his father, Terry, who won two bronze medals for ParalympicsGB at the Seoul and Atalanta.
Speaking about the day, Powell said: “This is 16 years in the making. It has been hell, winning, losing, breaking my body, my head and to come back again means so much.
Powell stepped away from the sport briefly after finishing 7th in Tokyo but returned in 2023.
“This a million per cent justifies the decision to come back to the sport,” he said.
“I love fighting, I love judo, I love competing, and being able to fly around the world and compete is the most amazing feeling, and especially to be watched here by my little boy, Edward.”
Reflecting on the Semi-Final contest, Powell said: “I loved beating the Frenchman in his back yard.”
“I have a lot of respect for the guy. He is a 10-time World Champion. But for me, to be able to do that is why I do it.
“It was difficult physically in the final. I popped my rib in the semi-final so I had to shrug that off and calm down after that and not let my body get stiff and recover in a couple of hours.
“That is the hardest part, so I’m delighted I could come back, get warmed up and ready and give a show for myself in the final and win another medal for the Powell household.”
Tokyo Paralympic Champion Chris Skelley was competing in the new weight category of +90kg in the J2 category. Skelley entered as the 4th seed, and following an opening-round bye, comfortably overcame home athlete Nacer Zorgani (FRA) in the Quarter-Final. Skelley registered a seoi-nage for waza-ari score in the opening 30 seconds before transitioning into newaza to register an ippon score.
He then faced number one seed, Ibrahim Bolukbasi (TUR) in the semi-final. The contest was a tense affair and with nothing between the pair, the contest entered Golden Score.
Skelley continued to force the contest, forcing his opponent to concede two shidos. With the contest in the 9th minute, Skelley conceded a second shido, then in the following exchange, the Turkish judoka registered a seoi-nage for waza-ari score, meaning Skelley would contest the bronze medal contest against Tony Ricardo Mantola (INA).
Skelley was in complete control from start to finish, securing the bronze medal in style. As the contest neared the midway point, Skelley went to ground, in his signature style and applied a strangle to win by ippon score.
Speaking after the contest, Skelley said: “It was a tough day. I had a really good semi-final against (Ibrahim) Bolukbasi and it was so, so close. I was really annoyed that I didn’t win that. In my head it was about pressure, I knew I could beat that guy all day long but the demons come out in your head and make you question yourself. So it’s good to get the win.”
“If you had said to me six months ago that I would step onto the mat in Paris, I’d have bitten your hand off. It’s been a very tough six months for me, mentally and physically. I’m so pleased that I’ve come through it a stronger person. On any other day, I feel like I could have been in that final. But two-time Paralympic medallist, if you’d told me that four years ago, I’d have bitten your hand off. I’m really happy.”
Evan Molloy was making his Paralympic debut fighting in the J2-90kg category. The 2023 European Championship bronze medallist had an opening-round bye before facing 4th seed Marcela Casanona (BRA). The contest was a cagey affair with the Brazilian judoka registering a waza-ari as the contest passed the midway point. Molloy continued to dominate but was unable to find a winning score, meaning he progressed to the Repechage to face Lasha Kizilashvili (GEO).
The Repechage contest was another tough battle with Kizilashvili registering a tani-otoshi for waza-ari score at the midpoint of the contest. Molloy battled hard to even the score but was caught with an ura-nage for ippon score.
“It wasn’t to be for me today unfortunately. I do believe that on a different day, it could have been a different result. However I can’t take away from the fact it’s been an amazing experience and I’m now going to be Evan Molloy PLY. Head down until Los Angeles.
“The crowds and the whole atmosphere of what a Paralympic Games is like has exceeded all expectations for me. It meant the world to be able to see my dad and I heard all my family in the crowd. To have that support is truly amazing. When I can get back and thank every single one of them, it’s going to be so nice.
“The plan now is to take a good bit of time to reflect on the experience of the Paralympic Games and then I’ll get back into the centre and training and focus on the next one.”
The result saw Molloy finish 7th at his maiden Paralympic Games.
