In a historic moment for Sri Lankan judo, Italy-based judoka Rajitha Nuwarapaksha secured the 128th spot in the world rankings, marking the highest achievement by a Sri Lankan judo player. This remarkable feat was accomplished at the Judo Grand Slam Tokyo 2023, held in Tokyo from December 1 to 5.
Starting the tournament with a world ranking of 211, Rajitha faced the formidable Nurbek Murtozoev from Uzbekistan, ranked 52 globally. In an intense bout lasting over three minutes, Rajitha emerged victorious, earning a substantial number of points for his first-round win.
Moving on to the second round, Rajitha encountered a tough opponent from Ukraine, ranked 26th in the world. Despite a spirited bout lasting nearly three minutes, Rajitha was defeated. Had he secured the victory, he would have faced the world’s number one player with the opportunity to claim a medal.
Competing in the 81kg weight class, Rajitha was among 49 participants in that category. Prior to the tournament, he held the 211th position in the world judo rankings. The event witnessed the participation of 506 athletes representing 84 countries worldwide.
Six months ago, Rajitha earned 84 points at the Austrian Grand Prix during the first round, propelling him to the 211th spot in the world rankings. Notably, before that competition, he was positioned at 496th in the global rankings.
Looking ahead, Rajitha is gearing up for two more world championship competitions scheduled for early next year: the Portugal Grand Slam and Paris Grand Prix. His aim is to secure an Olympic spot by achieving a world ranking below 75, qualifying for the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024. Rajitha’s journey continues as he strives for further success on the international judo stage.
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