VI Team set to compete at IBSA Astana Grand Prix

British Judo’s VI squad is gearing up to compete in Kazakhstan this weekend at the IBSA Astana Grand Prix.

This marks the first Grand Prix of the LA 2028 Paralympic cycle and the introduction of new weight categories, setting the stage for an exciting era following the team’s success at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Miles Soloman is set to compete in the -70kg category, aiming to make a strong impression early in the new Paralympic cycle. A graduate of the Paralympic Potential Programme, Miles previously competed in the -73kg division, Miles is among the athletes adjusting to the newly introduced weight categories implemented ahead of the 2028 Games.

Evan Molloy returns to action this weekend, competing in the -81kg division, a shift from his usual category of -90kg. This marks his first competitive outing since his debut at the Paralympic Games, where, despite not medalling, he made a memorable impression. Now, Evan is determined to build on that experience and make his mark on the road to Los Angeles

Jack Hodgson will compete in the +95kg category. Jack narrowly missed out on qualifying for Paris 2024 but is eager to bounce back from that setback and fight for a place in his second Paralympic Games

Kirsten Taylor, British Judo’s Paralympic Female Athlete of the Year for both 2023 and 2024, will take to the mat in the +70kg division. Kirsten came agonisingly close to qualifying for Paris 2024, falling just 100 points short in her first attempt. She now looks to begin this new cycle with a strong performance and a shot at silverware.

As the LA 2028 cycle begins, the IBSA Astana Grand Prix offers an exciting opportunity for British Judo’s VI athletes to showcase their talent, set the tone for the years ahead, and continue building on their recent achievements.

Ahead of the event, we caught up with Paralympic Head Coach Ian Johns to hear his thoughts ahead of the event:

“After the successes of the Paris Paralympic Games- the LA cycle starts with the first Grand Prix out here in Astana, Kazakhstan. This first event back sees a change in weight categories (Men -70, -81, -95 and +95kg and -52, -60, -70 and +70kg for the women. There will also be a test weight of -64kg for men and -44kg for women).”

“The team performed so well in the last cycle and they are ready to go again. The event will be a tough one with plenty of the top fighters here in Astana. But they look ready to go and really are hungry for success- start the cycle with some real strong performances before a very welcome break. I’m really excited to see how the team performs with the new weight categories- we have done the work, it’s time to do the business now before a very welcome break!”