The sixth day will stage another set of weight divisions, -78kg and -100kg category. Europe once again will be able to set their sights on glory.
Tcheumeo with a point to prove
In 2017, Natalie POWELL (GRB) was the only athlete from the continent who managed to snap a spot on the podium, winning Britain’s second World medal that week. POWELL is number 2 seed heading into this year’s World Championships. In fact, the top four seeds are all European judoka. Double Olympic medallist, ashi-waza master, Audrey TCHEUMEO (FRA) was rather upset when losing out against team-mate Madeleine MALONGA at the final of the 2018 European Championships. TCHEUMEO will not only want to prove to the World but France too, that she is the best choice. Will MALONGA be in her shadow or outshine the superstar once again? Marhinde VERKERK (NED) missed out on the podium last year, however, for the Dutch judoka, World medals are first-hand experiences with her full set on record. Luise MALZAHN (GER) has been on the low lately, however, she belongs to the World class. The triple European medallist and World bronze medallist German judoka will seek to bounce back to the elites. Bernadette GRAF (AUT) moved up to the -78kg category at the beginning of last year and fast progressed with some great results. An injury stopped her to progress further and in Baku she will return to test the water again within her newly chosen division.
Young blood in Azerbaijan
The -100kg category has such an abundance of talent from Europe, the top six seeds, all trying to take home the gold for the continent. Injuries from top athletes such as 2018 European Champion and World bronze medallist, Toma NIKIFOROV (BEL) will see the European count go down, however, the strength remains.
Top seed, Olympic and World silver medallist Georgian hopeful, Varlam LIPARTELIANI will step on the tatami on day six of the event. This tremendous athlete has been within reaching distance of a World gold medal on more than one occasion. With numerous European titles under his belt, we hope to see this big throwing competitor perform to his high standards and potentially add the World gold to his collection.
Of course it will be the most difficult of roads for the Georgian as he faces fellow World silver medallist Kirill DENISOV (RUS), although, in their most recent encounters, LIPARTELIANI has come out on top. Just behind the world ranked number one is Michael KORREL (NED), the Paris Grand Slam gold medallist this year. The strong and consistent athlete will be coming for that world title. The list of elite -100kg players doesn’t end there, Peter PALTCHIK (ISR) demonstrated he’s part of the leading pack with a Tbilisi Grand Prix gold as well as the hard earned European bronze in his home country this year.
Azerbaijan need not fear that their athletes have a shadow cast on them, Elmar GASIMOV, Olympic silver and World bronze medallist will undoubtedly compete in his usual calculating style, using his immense strength to execute his colossal judo. Then there is the diamond in the rough, the younger Azeri, Zelym KOTSOIEV. Edging on to the senior circuit over the past couple of years, the junior World and European Champion, KOTSOIEV, made his mark at the senior European Championship in Tel Aviv, taking down DENISOV and Jorge FONSECA (POR) to claim his first senior European Championship bronze. Although, Olympic bronze medallist, Cyrille MARET is out of the seeding set, the French judoka is still a concern for many in his division.
