Turkmen judoka Maisa Pardayeva wrote a new, bright page in the history of national sport by winning her first career gold medal at the Judo Grand Prix, according to the country’s International Judo Information Center.
The prestigious international tournament concluded on June 28 in Qingdao, China. The 21-year-old athlete, competing in the 57 kg weight class, demonstrated exceptional skill and determination, defeating some of the world’s strongest competitors.
The Turkmen athlete’s path to the top step of the podium was extremely intense. In the semifinals, Pardayeva caused a real sensation by defeating renowned Japanese judoka Momo Tamaoki and ending her long winning streak. In the final, Maisa faced Marta Fawaz of France.
The decisive bout kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final seconds. With regulation time ending scoreless, the bout entered a “golden score” format. Despite receiving a warning in overtime, the Turkmen athlete maintained her concentration and caught her opponent on the counterattack. A brilliantly executed ura-nage counterthrow earned Pardaeva a clear victory with an ippon score and a well-deserved tournament gold.
The victory in Qingdao marked the crowning achievement of the young judoka’s career at the senior level. Maisa Pardaeva had previously made a name for herself by winning a bronze medal at the Grand Slam tournament in Ulaanbaatar and representing Turkmenistan at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Her current triumph confirms her status as one of the most promising athletes in the world judo elite.
