The three-day Grand Prix occasion in Zagreb between the thirteenth and fifteenth of September will see 325 athletes from 40 nations compete. That is the opening occasion for the IJF World Judo Tour, marking the beginning of a brand new Olympiad and the delivery of recent targets and desires of an entire new technology.
They could be youthful, however a few of these names we already know. Within the -60kg class, Turan BAYRAMOV of Azerbaijan fought to take over staff mate Balabay AGHAYEV for the Olympic spot, however the youthful of the 2 simply fell brief. Now he’s the main male athlete of your complete occasion, not to mention his weight class. Ranked #17 on the earth, there may be nonetheless work to be executed, however Bayramov is a powerful contender within the Azerbaijan staff. He will probably be joined within the prime 4 by Michel AUGUSTO (BRA), Artem LESIUK (UKR) and staff mate, Ahmed YUSIFOV, demonstrating depth throughout the staff.
Within the -66kg class, the enjoying discipline is a bit more even, with the highest six seeded athletes all sitting across the similar place on the world rating checklist. Led by European Championship bronze medallist, PONGRACZ Bence (HUN), it will likely be an thrilling and dynamic class for day one leisure. Second seed is Ruslan PASHAYEV (AZE) who will probably be one to look at, leaping straight from European Cup medals to a Grand Slam bronze in Tbilisi this 12 months. Nevertheless there may be robust competitors from exterior of Europe with Canada’s Julien FRASCADORE, Zhanarys RAKHMETKALI (KAZ) and Ari BERLINER (USA). Within the remaining seeded spots we now have Nice Britain’s Charlie YOUNG and the 2023 Junior European Champion, Tengo ZIRAKASHVILI (GEO).
The boys’s -73kg class will probably be gruelling with super abilities together with Jack YONEZUKA (USA) main the pack and European silver medallist, Giovanni ESPOSITO (ITA) not far behind, however the menace is threaded all through the class, the likes of European Open Championship medallist Dardan CENA (KOS) and Grand Slam medallist Maxime GOBERT (FRA) who has modified classes are ready within the wings for his or her second of glory.
Main the -81kg class are breakthrough abilities; Mykhailo SVIDRAK (UKR) and Adam KOPECKY (CZE), and are forward by a stretch within the rating positions, adopted by Bernd FASCHING (AUT), who previous to the Olympic Video games, had confirmed himself an thrilling judoka to observe, with European Open achievements in addition to inserting on the IJF World Tour and World Championships. That being mentioned, it’s a class of sturdy contenders and nice judoka; with Victor STERPU (MDA) and Arnaud AREGBA (FRA).
Azerbaijan are sending a powerful staff to Zagreb, and within the -90kg class, the nationwide competitors will undoubtedly go in to the following Olympiad, however for this week, Vugar TALIBOV would be the accountable athlete. He’s joined by different younger abilities making an attempt to make their means up the rosters; SAFRANY Peter (HUN), Giorgi JABNIASHVILI (GEO) and Mark VAN DIJK (NED), in addition to -81kg judoka, Mihail LATISEV (MDA).
One in all Hungary’s rising stars is VEG Zsombor, and now that he had a style of the Olympic Video games, he will probably be hungrier than ever to get again on the tatami to organize for Los Angeles. The entry will not be so dense within the -100kg class, however the opposition is hard. Simeon CATHARINA (NED) is the quantity two seed, adopted by gifted judoka; Anton SAVYTSKIY (UKR) and Rhys THOMPSON (GBR). Then we welcome within the French duo, Francis DAMIER and Marc Francois NGAYAP. As if that is nonetheless not sufficient, residence favorite, Marko KUMRIC and Italy’s promising future, Jean CARLETTI are rallying beneath. On the very backside we see heavyweight Johannes FREY (GER) who launched into his comeback this 12 months following surgical procedure, and is seemingly testing the waters within the lighter class, the place his brother, Karl-Richard was housed.
Closing out the boys’s classes are the +100kg judoka. The dutch competitors continues with Jelle SNIPPE and Jur SPIJKERS, who maintain the highest two locations, and in response to rating positions might doubtless have a face off within the ultimate. That’s in fact if they’ll keep the course and stand as much as their opponents, however with Japanese entry, NAKANO Kanta and Poland’s Grzegorz TERESINSKI, this may not be such a simple trip. The latter was dealt the unlucky ultimate within the Madrid European Open with Teddy RINER (FRA) previous to the Olympic Video games and shocked the group by throwing the judo legend within the opening moments. Returning to competitors he have to be fuelled and motivated realizing that the chance to succeed towards the highest is effectively inside his attain.
The draw will happen on the twelfth of September on-line at 14:00 native time.
Judoka
Creator: Thea Cowen
Share
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
E-Mail
