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It is a real who’s who in the -60kg line up in Podgorica! With the top four seeds within the top ten of the world ranking list, we can expect some ballistic judo and perhaps it is too close to call… who will become the 2025 European Champion?
At the head of the pack is Olympic silver medallist, Luka MKHEIDZE (FRA) who has made an incredible return to competition, securing the Grand Slam gold in Tbilisi, who is rivalled by former World Champion, but current European Champion, Francisco GARRIGOS (ESP).
Garrigos also joined Mkheidze on the Olympic podium, after battling for the bronze medal position against the number three seed in this event, and Olympic fifth place, Giorgi SARDALASHVILI (GEO). It seems these pairings like to switch up and share the titles as the Georgian athlete is the current owner of. The red back patch and World title, the youngest in Georgian history in fact! Though Sardalashvili took a run out in the Warsaw European Open, he attempted it at -66kg and it didn’t serve him well, but he made up for it in multiple training camps this year.
Making up the top four is Ayub BLIEV (IJF), who took the gold in the OTP Group Tashkent Grand Slam this year quite convincingly. Bliev earned continental championship medals as both a junior and U23 athlete, but he is looking to a senior accolade to that collection.
The ‘ones to watch’ in this category certainly includes Salih YILDIZ (TUR) who gave a strong performance in Paris, seeing out Sardalashvili in the quarter final, but ended up in 5th place having lost to NAGAYAMA Ryuju (JPN). Nevertheless, it was an occasion to prove that he can run with the best and in doing so earned some valuable points and attention. Enzo JEAN (FRA) pulled it out of the bag in the Paris Grand Slam with a stunning ura nage against Jorre VERSTRAETEN (BEL), cementing his presence on the senior circuit.
Israel have a double act in the -60kg category with Junior European silver medallist and the Ljubljana European Open winner, Yehonatan VEKSLER and the current Cadet European Champion and 2023 Cadet World Champion, Izhak ASHPIZ. Both are very exciting and entertaining athletes and will shake things up in the early rounds in this category.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen