Nagoya, October 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian judoka Kokila stunned reigning world champion Yi Liu of China to storm into the women’s J2 -52kg final at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Monday, guaranteeing India at least a silver medal in the event.
Competing at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall, Kokila held her nerve to overcome Liu in a tense semifinal, winning 1-0 and booking a place in the gold medal bout against Kyrgyzstan’s Aibike Ulanbek Kyzy later in the day.
The semifinal was a closely fought contest, with both athletes seeking scoring opportunities through technical execution. Kokila registered a waza-ari and a yuko, while Liu also managed a waza-ari. Kokila received a shido penalty for a minor rule infringement but ultimately advanced to the final.
The achievement marks another milestone in Kokila’s international career. She won bronze in the women’s -48kg category at the previous Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and is competing in a different weight category in Aichi-Nagoya. The Indian judoka also represented the country at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Her victory over a leading international competitor gives her an opportunity to improve on her previous Asian Para Games result by winning gold.
The J2 classification in para-judo is for athletes with visual impairments, with contests testing competitors’ technique, balance and tactical awareness.
Meanwhile, India’s Kapil Parmar will fight for bronze in the men’s J1 -70kg category after losing his semifinal to Indonesia’s Junaedi by ippon. The Paris Paralympics bronze medallist had earlier reached the semifinals by defeating Mongolia’s Bat-erdene Baatarsuren in four minutes and 53 seconds.
With Kokila assured of a podium finish, India will look to her final against Aibike Ulanbek Kyzy for another gold medal opportunity at the Games.
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