Maryam Barbat continues her competition on the third day of the judo events at the 20th Asian Games 2026, held at the Aichi Hall in Nagoya, Japan. This Iranian judoka is now on the verge of winning a bronze medal in the under 78 kg category after her impressive victories.
Maryam Barbat's Path to Success
Maryam Barbat, a member of the Iranian women's national judo team, faced Khuslen Otkhonbayar from Mongolia in her first match and defeated her with an ippon score, showcasing her superior performance. This victory advanced her to the quarterfinals.
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In this stage, Barbat competed against Hongtao Wu from China, who held the 16th world ranking. With an admirable performance and display of her capabilities, Maryam also defeated this opponent with an ippon and advanced to the semifinals. These victories reflect Barbat's strong determination and will to succeed in this competition.
Surprise in the Semifinals
In the semifinals, Maryam Barbat faced Mizuki Sugimura from Japan. In this match, while she was ahead of her opponent, she was suddenly surprised and lost by ippon. This defeat meant the end of her journey to the finals, but now she must compete for the bronze medal.
The Iranian women's national judo team is led by Masoumeh Jafari. Previously, Mahsa Shakibayi and Samira Khakkhah were eliminated from the competition after losing to their opponents. Now, hopes are pinned on Maryam Barbat to win the bronze medal, and her fans expect her to give her all in this final match.
Given the course of the competitions and Maryam Barbat's performance, she is recognized not only as a judoka but also as a symbol of the will and effort of Iranian athletes on the international stage. The Iranian sports community hopes that this judoka returns from the competitions with her hands full and brings more honors to her country.
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