Silver for Miles Soloman at the 2025 IBSA European Championships
Miles Soloman’s silver and Evan Molloy’s 5th-place finish marked a strong first day for Great Britain at the 2025 IBSA European Championships in Tbilisi.
Miles Soloman (Oxford University JC) began his day in the Round of 16 with an impressive performance, forcing his Italian opponent to tap out within the opening minute of the bout.
That dominant start propelled him into the Quarter-finals, where he faced a formidable Georgian opponent. The match extended into golden score, but Soloman held his nerve and secured another submission to advance.
In the Semi-final, Miles controlled the contest against his Turkish opponent brilliantly, using his height to dictate the fight before throwing for ippon—a decisive move that earned him a place in the European Championships final for the first time.
The final posed a massive challenge: the reigning world champion. Despite a determined and spirited effort, Miles came out of the fight with a well-deserved silver medal.
This is a tremendous achievement, adding another major championship medal to his 2025 season. Facing the best in his division under such pressure will serve as an invaluable step in his continued development.
Speaking on Miles’ performance, Paralympic Head Coach Ian Johns said, “A fantastic performance from Miles today – he backed his world medal up with another championship medal.
“His athleticism and decision-making were massive factors in him winning the medal.
“We are so proud of him and the improvement he has shown at this level of judo.”
“His job now is to help get the three best results tomorrow.”
Evan Molloy (Devizes Judo) took a 5th-place finish at this year’s IBSA European Championships.
A strong opening win in the Quarter-final showcased his ability to compete with the best today, but a couple of tough calls in both the Semi-final and the bronze medal match narrowly kept him off the podium.
Even so, a 5th-place finish at the European Championships is something to be very proud of. Evan displayed his usual class and ability throughout the day and will now turn his focus to the next competition.
Congratulations to both Miles and Evan on their performances, and best of luck to Dan Powell, Jack Hodgson, and Kirsten Taylor as they compete tomorrow.
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