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A quick glance at the entry for the Baku Grand Slam 2025 and you can immediately be excited, with a slew of Olympic medallists and legends, it will be a tough feat for the European entries.
The Paris Grand Slam was a tough event, but now that Japan have sent their A-Team to play, it will certainly be very interesting. All eyes of course are on ABE Uta in the -52kg category. The Tokyo Olympic Champion has been almost unrivalled, but in the Paris Olympic Games, she was stunned by Diyora KELDIYOROVA (UZB), who terminated her possibilities of standing on the Olympic podium. Not only was the defeat widely discussed, but so was the reaction that followed, which would lead us to believe it has been a hard journey back to the tatami for the 24 year-old. Abe’s opponents include top regular performers; Mascha BALLHAUS (GER) and PUPP Reka (HUN) as well as rising stars; GYERTAS Roza (HUN) and Ayumi LEIVA SANCHEZ (ESP).
Olympic gold and bronze medallists TSUNODA Natsumi (JPN) and Tara BABULFATH (SWE) lead the -48kg category this week, the pair went head to head in a tough semi final in the Paris 2024 Olympics, a contest to remember. Given the seeding, we could see a repeat in the final in Baku. Though there are some big throwing athletes in the -57kg category including top seed Eteri LIPARTELIANI (GEO), eyes will be on Azerbaijan’s up and coming judoka, Fidan ALIZADA, the 19 year-old not only took the Junior European title in 2024, but went one further to claim the U23 title.
We continue to welcome new faces to new weight categories which isn’t uncommon as we venture in to a new cycle. In the -63kg category, Jessica KLIMKAIT (CAN) comes in unseeded, testing the waters against the likes of World Champion, Joanne VAN LIESHOUT, former Olympic and World Champion, Rafaela SILVA (BRA) and number two seed, Ljubljana PIOVESANA (AUT) who took fifth place in Paris.
Usually in the -63kg category, OZBAS Szofi (HUN) has stepped up to take on the women at -70kg, which again is offering up Olympic success from silver medallist, Miriam BUTKEREIT (GER), with her team mate, Giovanna SCOCCIMARRO. A young candidate breaking through the ranks is Elena DENGG (AUT), 2024 brought her great success, with both a Junior World and European U23 title.
In the -78kg category it will be a real battle for podium places. The group contains only eight contenders, but it will be fierce. Alina BOEHM and Anna Monta OLEK of Germany hold the top two positions and were both in the top 10 before Olympic qualification, though behind another German athlete which lost them Olympic candidacy. Now in a new run, the games begin again. Others vying for the gold in Baku will be Yuliia KURCHENKO (UKR), recently returned Lieke DERKS (NED) following injury, world ranking list climber, Zanet MICHAELIDOU (CYP) and Japan’s UMEKI Mami. Finally, European silver medallist, Elisavet TELTSIDOU (GRE) is unranked, and will be a surprise in the weight.
Wrapping up the women’s categories are the +78kg, lead by Hilal OZTURK (TUR), closely follows by three athletes in the top 20; Marit KAMPS (NED), Karen STEVENSON (NED) and Milica ZABIC (SRB).
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen