Judo in the lead at SportAccord World Combat Games

The 2013 SportAccord World Combat Games is set to be a global sporting spectacular with a judo team competition starting the Games off in style in St Petersburg, Russia, on Saturday and Sunday.

Following the successful first World Combat Games, Beijing 2010, the second edition features 15 martial arts and combat sports: Aikido, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Jujitsu, Karate, Kendo, Kickboxing, Muaythai, Sambo, Savate, Sumo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Wushu. Judo will be represented with a two-day team competition which will take place at the St Petersburg Sports and Concert Complex. The invitations were based on the results of the last two World Team Competitions (2012: Salvador, BRA – 2013: Rio de Janeiro, BRA). The women’s team competition graces the tatami on Saturday as the men close the judo competition on Sunday with eight countries featuring on each day and five judoka in each team. Each match will consist of five contests which start with the lightest judoka and move up to the heaviest. The best-of-five format sees the winner advance into the semi-finals which conclude the first session before the break. The four losing quarter-finalists enter the repechage to battle for a place in the two bronze medal matches against the losing semi-finalists. The final block will take place on one mat and will feature all the medal contests. Ahead of the opening ceremony, the judo delegations assembled at the Park Inn Pulkovskaya for the draw on Friday afternoon. World Combat Games Judo Ambassador and Russian Judo Federation General Team Manager Ezio Gamba was among the officials in attendance. Women’s team event Japan v Mongolia Reigning World Team Championship gold medallists Japan start their campaign against Mongolia. Cuba v China 2013 World Team Championship bronze medallists Cuba meet China for a place in the semi-finals. Brazil v Kazakhstan 2013 World Team Championship hosts and silver medallists Brazil start their campaign against Kazakhstan. France v Russia 2013 World Team Championships bronze medallists France face hosts Russia in the fourth quarter-final. Men’s team event Georgia v Uzbekistan 2013 World Team Championships winners Georgia start their competition against reigning World bronze medallists Uzbekistan. Japan v Brazil 2013 World Team bronze medallists Japan and 2012 bronze medallists Brazil clash in quarter-final action. Russia v Mongolia Hosts Russia will look to bounce back from losing the 2013 World Team Championship final against Georgia with a golden performance in front of a partisan crowd. Germany v France Two of Europe’s leading judo nations will collide as 2013 World Team bronze medallists Germany face off against France.