Judo at 2024 Paris Olympics: Scoring rules, format and path to medal

The 2024 Paris Olympics are almost upon us, with the Games starting on Friday, July 26. Spectators across the world will be waiting with bated breath for the Games to begin, so that they can cheer for their favourite athletes.

Judo, a traditional Japanese martial art form derived from jiu-jitsu, is one of the many promising events that spectators can take in, with Indians keen on keeping an eye out for one of their own.

Tulika Maan is the only judoka to represent India in the Summer Games, and the entire nation will be right behind her, hoping and praying that she ends up coming home with a medal.

Rules of the sport

The rules of judo may seem to be a tad complicated to the beginner, but it is not really so. The objective of the sport is, chiefly, to throw one's opponent to the ground and pin them into submission with a joint choke or lock.

There are two types of scores in a judo match: ippon and waza-ari. The former is awarded when an athlete throws their opponent to the mat primarily on their back with strength, speed and control.

This can also be awarded through submission or by pinning an opponent to the ground for 20 seconds. A judoka immediately wins the match if they achieve ippon.

Waza-ari, on the other hand, is awarded when the referee is not sure if an ippon can be awarded, primarily if the opponent of the judoka does not land on their back.

Two waza-ari in a match have the potential to end it and award the game to the judoka who affects it.

Format and path to medal

What the reader must understand is that the judo events in the Olympics are held across several categories divided into the respective weights of the participants.

The path to a medal is quite simple in this sport, as the athletes have to take part in just two rounds - the preliminary event and the final block.

Once they clear the preliminary events, the athletes can contest in the final block, where they can aim for a medal.