Coming on the back of a successful outing at the Astana Grand Prix last week the Europeans are lined up and ready to snatch the spoils here in Tashkent. 11 of the 14 weight categories have Europeans as number one seeds and, given last week’s strong showing, it will be tough to keep the Europeans from taking the top spots. In the -66kg category Dzimitry Shershan BLR missed out on the medal podium last week but is again seeded number one here and will be desperate to make the most of that top spot. Israel’s Sagi Muki made it to the final of the -73kg category last week losing out to Pierre Duprat FRA. Both fighters are here again and could meet in the semi final. Russia’s Kiril Denisov joins the Tour for this second leg and takes the number one spot in the -90kg category. In the -100kg category Adlan Bisultanov RUS comes in as number one seed and is chasing his second Grand Prix gold of the year having won in Zagreb a month or so ago. The top heavyweight spot goes to Bor Barna HUN after his gold medal wining performance in the +100kg category in Astana last week. Making her return to the tatami after her world silver medal performance Andrea Chitu ROM takes the number one spot in the -52kg category. Sabrina Filzmoser AUT has decided that it’s full steam ahead and looks set to continue where she left off last week by using her number one seeded position to set up another gold medal win. The same can be said for Israel’s Yarden Gerbi who struck gold in the -63kg category last week. It was a pleasing first gold medal in the last 12 months for Gerbi. A trio of Germans head up as number one seeds the next three categories. Lead by Laura Vargas Koch GER who took bronze in the -70kg category last week, team mate Luise Malzahn GER went one better and took silver in the -78kg category, but it was left to Franziska Konitz GER to take away the “big prize’ of gold in the +78kg category and it will be Konitz again who will be favourite for gold among this trio.
