Somon Mahmadbekov, Tajikistan’s top judoka in the -81kg category, secured a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris by defeating Antonio Esposito of Italy, as it was disclosed by ASIA-Plus.
In the preliminary rounds, Mahmadbekov overcame Palestinian judoka Fares and Frank De Vita of the Netherlands, advancing to the quarterfinals. However, in the quarterfinal match, he faced a strong opponent in Tato Grigalashvili of Georgia, the reigning world champion and three-time world champion. Despite a solid effort, Mahmadbekov was defeated by Grigalashvili.
The repechage round provided Mahmadbekov with a second chance to compete for a medal. In this round, he faced Uzbek judoka Sharofiddin Boltaboyev and emerged victorious, earning him the opportunity to compete for the bronze medal. In the decisive match for bronze, held on July 30, Mahmadbekov defeated Italian judoka Antonio Esposito, securing the medal for Tajikistan.
This achievement is reminiscent of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing when Tajik judoka Rasoul Boqiyev won the country’s first Olympic medal by claiming bronze in the -73kg category.
In addition to his Olympic success, Mahmadbekov has had an impressive year in 2024. On May 9, he won a bronze medal in the -81kg category at the IJF World Championships Seniors Individuals in Abu Dhabi. In the quarterfinals of this championship, he defeated Tato Grigalashvili, the same opponent he faced in the Olympic quarterfinals. Despite losing to Grigalashvili in the Olympic Games, Mahmadbekov's victory over him in Abu Dhabi highlighted his capability. Grigalashvili ultimately won gold in the -81kg category at the IJF World Championships in Abu Dhabi.
On April 20, Mahmadbekov secured another bronze medal in the -81kg category at the Asian Championships Individuals 2024 in Hong Kong. These consistent performances throughout the year have established Mahmadbekov as a leading figure in the sport for Tajikistan.
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