Azerbaijan's Leyla Aliyeva Faces Defeat in Women's Judo -48 kg Elimination Round

In the Women's -48 kg Elimination Round of 32 at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Azerbaijani judoka Leyla Aliyeva faced off against Khalimajon Kurbonova from Uzbekistan on July 27, 2024. The match, held at the prestigious Champ-de-Mars Arena, ended with a decisive victory for Kurbonova, showcasing her skill and determination on the tatami.

The contest began at 10:12 AM local time, with both athletes eager to secure a place in the next round. Aliyeva, competing in a white judogi, weighed in at 47.8 kg and held a world ranking of 22. Meanwhile, Kurbonova, clad in blue, tipped the scales at 47.7 kg and ranked 27th worldwide. Despite Aliyeva's previous achievement of securing second place at the Heydar Aliyev Baku Grand Slam in 2023, she struggled to gain an advantage in this matchup.

The bout was intense, with Kurbonova earning her first point at the 3:09 mark by executing the Uki-otoshi technique, which awarded her a Waza-ari. Aliyeva was penalized shortly after, facing a penalty at just 10 seconds into the match, which added pressure as the contest progressed.

As the match continued, Kurbonova demonstrated her tactical prowess, ultimately outmaneuvering Aliyeva, who was unable to score any points throughout the contest. The referee, Vladimer Nutsubidze from Georgia, called the match to a close at 10:18 AM, officially marking Kurbonova's victory and Aliyeva's exit from the tournament.

This elimination round was a critical moment in the Women's -48 kg judo event, showcasing the high level of competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Fans and athletes alike are left anticipating the next stages of the competition as Kurbonova advances, while Aliyeva reflects on her performance and prepares for future challenges.