He is back. Lasha BEKAURI (GEO) will be defending his Tokyo Olympic title in Paris, and will be competing as the top seed. As one of the most exciting athletes to watch, day five will bring high level entertainment, be it the Georgian’s unique judo or the chase his opponents will giving. Nemanja MAJDOV (SRB) has climbed up the ranking in the past seven months, claiming a European title as well as fighting his way to the World final. In the fifth seeding position for Hungary is the Olympic bronze medallist, TOTH Krisztian, one of the most consistent of the -90kg athletes, but he is still hunting down that gold medal at a major event as a senior. More than capable, 2024 could be the year.
A major potential champion for this Olympic Games is Mihael ZGANK (TUR). Toward the end of 2023, the medals were rolling in, on the IJF World Tour as well as claiming bronze in the European Championships, but in the new year Zgank achieved gold in a special place; the Paris Grand Slam. Not only is this achievement many athletes work towards, but in the year of the Olympic Games in the same city, it must be a good feeling. Rounding out the top eight is Christian PARLATI (ITA), a strong element of the Italian team, who are known to show up as their best selves in this highlight event for athletes.
Outside of the seeded places, watch out for the developing talents from World bronze medallist Tristani MOSAKHLISHVILI (ESP) and current European Champion, Eljan HAJIYEV (AZE). A very late entry is the Olympic silver medallist, Eduard TRIPPEL (GER), can he be pull out another showstopper?
Now the -90kg may be exciting, but for Europe, the challenge in the -70kg category is simply incredible. All but one of the seeded places are taken by the European women, only seed #5 goes to Japan’s NIIZOE Saki. Double World Champion and current European Champion Barbara MATIC (CRO) will be carrying the flag for her country in the opening ceremony this year, but the number one seed has excelled in this cycle and her biggest celebration could be on the horizon.
That being said, the opposition is strong, if the seeding has anything to say then Elisavet TELTSIDOU (GRE) could meet Matic at the end of the day and play out the European Championship final, a perfect moment to even the score. Tokyo silver medallist Michaela POLLERES (AUT) can also boast of being awarded the status of flag bearer but the focus will be on besting her last Olympic result, being so close to the ultimate title will only fuel her motivation. The list continues with Sanne VAN DIJKE (NED), World and Olympic medallist, who hasn’t been as active on the tour as usual, but a necessary decision for recovery and be prepared in the best way possible was made, no doubt we will see her on top form.
Following on after Niizoe, we have France’s medal hopeful, Marie Eve GAHIE, the 2023 European Champion and former World Champion, she also made it to the World final this year, and could very well see herself in to the final in front of the home crowd. From the outside, it looked like there was a chance Miriam BUTKEREIT (GER) might not make it to Paris, pulling out in the European Championships with injury, but with a quick refresh in the recent Tallinn Open, she is ready to fight for a medal, as is Spain’s young talent, Ai TSUNODA ROUSTANT.
Kim POLLING (ITA) will also be one to watch, only this year she qualified for the Olympic Games after transferring to the Italian team from Netherlands. It has been a fairytale for Polling, coming back after starting a family, and marrying long-term boyfriend, and now representing the country that for so long she has called home, Paris is the icing on the cake.
Wednesday 31st July: -90kg/-70kg
- Preliminaries
- Start: 10:00 End: 14:00
- Final block (repechage, semi-finals, bronze medal contests and final)
- Start: 16:00 End: 19:00
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen