Alana Maldonado takes revenge on 2016 with Tokyo gold

Brazil’s Rio 2016 silver medallist Alana Maldonado returned from the disappointment of her home Paralympics five years ago to claim a much coveted Paralympic title. Taking on Georgia’s Ina Kaldani, who had beaten Mexican Paralympic title-holder Lenia Ruvalcaba on her way to the final, Maldonado’s victory rarely looked in doubt.

Maldonado got a waza-ari on the board but continued to attack. The Brazilian was unlucky to miss out on more points as Kaldani floundered. When the clock ticked over to 0:00 Maldonado let out a huge scream and embraced her coach after being officially awarded the win.

“It was five years of very hard work, a lot of uncertainty about whether we would be here,” Maldonado said. “I went through a lot of personal things, which made me almost give up.

“It’s not easy for us to go after medals. We have a life and we have to give it up in order to do this.

“But today I can say everything was worth it. I made my dream come true and those people who love me are very happy.

“This gold is not just mine, it’s ours. There are a lot of people behind it.

“Thank you so much for everyone’s support. This gold is ours, it’s going to Brazil.”

Japan’s Kazusa Ogawa did not let her relatively small stature get in her way in her bronze medal match against the RPC’s Olga Zabrodskaiia.

Only just level with Zabrodskaiia’s chest, Ogawa used all her strength and technique to achieve the waza-ari and let the clock tick down. It is Japan’s first women’s judo medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and legendary judo venue, the Nippon Budokan.

Mexican Paralympic champion Lenia Ruvalcaba had to bounce back from the disappointment of losing her chance to defend her title as instead she went for bronze.

Facing Turkey’s Raziye Ulucam, Ruvalcaba got her consolation.