Cypriot judoka Sofia Asvesta has officially secured her place in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. On Tuesday, the International Judo Federation (IJF) announced that Asvesta’s 28th place in the Olympic standings officially guarantees her participation in the Olympic Games in Paris.
A Journey of Determination
Asvesta’s qualification marks the culmination of a challenging two-year journey that began in June 2022. The final announcement of all judokas who will compete in Paris is expected on June 23, when the qualification period officially closes.
“Sofia’s success is an example for all Cypriot judokas,” said Sotos Trikomitis, president of the Cyprus Judo Federation. “Her qualification has paved the way for future successes of Cypriot judo on the international stage.”
Trikomitis’ words were echoed by the federation’s technical director Christos Christodoulides, who highlighted the significance of Asvesta’s achievement.
“It was a long-term goal, and the obstacles were immense,” he said. “But through these challenges, we have all become stronger and more resilient. We are proud that Sofia has led our final push towards Olympic qualification.”
Support and Future Prospects
Christodoulides also noted that aside from Asvesta, six other Cypriot champions were close to qualifying, namely:
- Petros Christodoulides
- Giorgos Balarjishvili
- Yiannis Antoniou
- Kyprianos Andreou
- Georgios Kroussaniotakis
- Janet Michailidou
He also expressed gratitude towards the Cyprus Olympic Committee and the Cyprus Sports Organisation for their support. “The excellent cooperation and financial support programmes offered by both bodies also played a significant role,” he added.
