Four Bronze Medals for British VI Team at IBSA World Cup Tbilisi

The British Judo VI team had a fantastic couple of days in Tbilisi, securing four bronze medals from five entrants and adding a 5th place finish to their strong performance.

The IBSA World Cup Tbilisi was the first major event of the LA 2028 cycle for the VI team, giving them valuable momentum as they move into their next competition of the year.

On Day 1, Evan Molloy (Devizes Judo) showcased his experience in a challenging -81kg J2 group, putting on a standout performance. In the bronze medal match, he faced a high-level opponent and rose to the occasion, securing a well-earned medal.

Miles Soloman (Oxford Judo) took on a tough group in the -70kg J2 division, where he managed to secure a respectable 5th place finish at such a major event on the IBSA calendar.

Day two of the event saw a fantastic medal haul for the British VI team, with three athletes stepping onto the podium.

Dan Powell (Phoenix Judo) battled through a tough -95kg J1 division to secure a well-deserved bronze medal. In the +70kg J2 category, Kirsten Taylor (Tayside Judo) delivered a strong performance to claim her spot on the podium. Rounding off the team’s success, Jack Hodgson (Grimsby Judo) fought his way to bronze in the +95kg J2 division, adding to an impressive overall team result.

Paralympic Head Coach Ian Johns said about his team’s performance, “I am very happy with the results in what was a world class event!! The draws were incredibly strong for the team – Dan Powell drawing his Paris 2024 Paralympic final foe from Brazil.

“The team delivered some awesome judo and dug-out wins that will set the team up for the rest of the cycle. The team fought well and to take 4 medals and a fifth place is a great return.

“We will take a short break before preparing for the KAZ World Championships in May.”

Congratulations to everyone who competed over the past week, including Kelly Petersen-Pollard, who secured a strong 7th-place finish in the -70kg category at the Tbilisi Grand Slam over the weekend.

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