Expanded ParaJudo team debuts at IBSA World Championships in Kazakhstan
- jnunan23
- May 29
- 2 min read
Para judo in Australia has stepped confidently into a building phase with an expanded para team attending the 2025 IBSA Judo World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan earlier this month.
Led by National Para coach and Para Pathway Lead, Elliot Stewart, four Australia para judoka stepped onto the mat in Astana - Taylor Gosens, Maysa Abouzeid, Jake Fitzpatrick and first time national team member, Shaun Edwards.
Competition proved challenging for the entire team, with the experienced Paralympian Taylor Gosens coming in fifth place in the J2 +70kg, while Shaun Edwards endured two hard fought fights to take out 7th in the J1M +95kg category.
Maysa Abouzeid, competing in the J1W -60kg, and Jake Fitzpatrick in the J2M -70kg struggled in a big international field, both outclassed by more experienced players in their divisions.
Every one of these players was already a winner having navigated significant challenges just to be there, Elliot Stewart explained on his return to Australia.
“We are here to learn, and train, and be inspired by the champions we’ll be going up against in the future,” he said. “Obviously we want to do well, obviously we want to win, but there’s a way to go before we get there and this has been a great exercise in showing us the road ahead."
“Athletes who train in different cities, different states and rarely get to compete with another para athlete came together as a team, supported each other and took it the world’s best. I’m very proud, and excited about the road to LA, and Brisbane beyond that.”
Taylor Gosens, based in Sydney, represented Australia at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and trains with UNSW Judo Club with Ivica Pavlinic. Supporting her on the trip to Kazakhstan was Japanese judoka Aki Kuroda, a former Junior world champion.
Maysa Abouzeid trains with Senshi Academy in Thomastown, Melbourne, with coaches Ivo and Isa Dos Santos. Maysa was supported in Kazakhstan by Senshi clubmate, Fabian Gonzales Valero.
Jake (Jacob) Fitzgerald, of Coffs Harbor in northern New South Wales, is coached and supported by Cliff Illingworth from Woopi Warriors Judo Club in Woolgoolga.
Shaun Edwards, from South Australia, trains at the UniSA Judo Club with Masa Motoyama, who also supported Shaun in his trip to Kazakhstan.
“Particularly for our J1 players, who have very little sight, it’s a huge endeavour to travel halfway around the world to represent your country in judo. They’d impressed me even before we stepped on the mat, and I’m very grateful to their clubs and coaches for helping make this happen,” Elliot Stewart said. "Now we focus on LA and build towards that."
Judo Australia was able to provide significant funding for the athletes under the WinWell strategy for Australian sport, which has also allowed JA to establish our first ParaJudo Pathway program. That pathway is critical to future Paralympic success, with Elliot Stewart - himself a former Judo Paralympian - tasked with recruiting new ParaJudo players as well as preparing our existing para athletes for the long road to Brisbane 2032.
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