Imagine putting everything you’ve got into a crucial match, only to have it all fall apart when you’re struggling with a serious injury. That’s exactly what happened to Nurali Emomali from Tajikistan during his quarterfinal at the Paris Olympics. Before the match, Emomali had already stirred up controversy by refusing Tohar Butbul of Israel during their competition on Sunday.

This snub didn’t sit well with fans, and criticism started pouring in. Fast forward to his next bout against Japan’s Hifumi Abe, and things went from bad to worse. Emomali ended up dislocating his shoulder and was seen in tears on the mat. It was a tough break, especially after he had won his earlier match against Shmailov in just over a minute. The combination of his earlier gesture and his injury led to a wave of backlash from the public, with many calling it ‘instant karma.’ Emomali’s dreams of snagging a gold medal were dashed, and his Olympic journey ended on a sour note. Meanwhile, Abe, who went on to win the gold, had his own bittersweet moment amidst the controversy.

Everything we know about Nurali Emomali

Nurali Emomali, a 22-year-old judo competitor from Tajikistan, has recently been in the spotlight at the Paris Olympics. Despite his youth, he’s already carved out a reputation for himself in the judo world and is now an Olympian in the -66 kg class. Emomali had a rough ride in Paris, facing some controversy and a tough injury that cut his Olympic run short.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Nurali Emomali competed in the under-66 kg judo category. He ended up 7th in the event. He faced some tough opponents—he lost to Strahinja Buncic from Serbia in the match for 5th to 7th place and also lost to Hifumi Abe from Japan in the quarterfinals. But he did get a win over Baruch Shmailov from Israel in the round of 16.

Abe went on to defeat Brazil’s Willian Lima in the final, securing his second gold medal in the event. Lima earned the silver medal, marking the first Olympic medal of his career. Kazakhstan’s Gusman Kyrgyzbayev and Moldova’s Denis Vieru both took home bronze medals.

A couple of years ago, in 2022, he made quite an impression by winning gold at the Junior World Championships in Guayaquil. He didn’t stop there—he also snagged a silver medal at the Grand Slam in Antalya in 2024. This being his first Olympics, he has gained quite a reputation for not shaking hands with Shmailov; however, his run came to an end, and we hope he recovers soon.

What happened to Nurali Emomali’s arm?

Nurali Emomali’s Olympic journey hit a rough patch when he suffered a serious elbow dislocation, which is unfortunately common in judo, especially when a fall puts too much stress on the arm. This injury happened in his match against a Japanese competitor and cut his Olympic run short.

The dislocation happened when he faced off against the Japanese judoka, who slammed him into the floor. It was a tough way to end his Olympic debut, especially after the drama that preceded it, but we wish him luck in the future. Do you think that Emomali will return for the next Olympics? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.