19 April 2018

PREVIEW #JUDOTELAVIV2018 -48KG AND -60KG

European Judo Championships 2018 Tel Aviv

PREVIEW #JUDOTELAVIV2018 -48KG AND -60KG

Bilodid’s absence

Last year’s winner of the -48 kg, Daria BILODID (UKR) will be absent next week due to an injury she picked up earlier. Therefore, this particular category will be led by Irina DOLGOVA (RUS). Potentials amongst top seeded players are double U23 European Champion, Milica NIKOLIC (SRB); Olympic Bronze medallist, CSERNOVICZKI Eva (HUN) and IJF World Tour Masters bronze medallist, Julia FIGUEROA (ESP). Shira RISHONY and Noa MINSKER will strengthen the medal chances for the host nation. Returner, Dilara LOKMANHEKIM (TUR) and new comer Marusa STANGAR (SLO) could bring awaited surprises. The total number of athletes inscribed is 24.

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2017 European bronze medallist, Noa MINSKER (in white) alongside team-mate, Shira RISHONY, will strengthen the medal chances for the host nation.

Unseeded Mudranov to cause distress 

Robert MSHVIDOBADZE (RUS) won the European title last year in the -60 kg category. Next Wednesday, Islam YASHUEV and Rio 2016 Olympic Champion, Beslan MUDRANOV will step in to regain the title for the Russian team. Mudranov will enter the field of play as an unseeded athlete of his category, which can cause a great deal of a difficulty first thing in the morning for all top 8 seeded athletes. 2017 European Bronze medallist, Francisco GARRIGOS (ESP) leads the entry list with his WRL 4 position. Joins closely 2013 European Champion, Amiran PAPINASHVILI (GEO) and European Bronze medallist, Ashley MCKENZIE (GBR). Also amongst the seeded players, 2016 European Champion, Walide KHYAR (FRA). The 28-year-old Bulgarian judoka, Yanislav GERCHEV, crowned his list of achievements when finishing second place in Warsaw last year. He is currently number 8 seeded. Can he maintain his success on the podium? As per the host nation, Alon AHARON and Daniel BEN DAVID will boost opportunities.

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Last year’s winner, Robert MSHVIDOBADZE (RUS), will be replaced by another two Russian team mates this year.


I GUESS…

Throughout our previews, we asked individuals to guess a few of their potential gold medallists as well as name an underdog player for victory. For the -48 kg category, the Vice-President of the European Judo Union, World and European Champion, Mrs. Jane Bridge assisted us. For the men lightweight, we asked Ludwig Paischer, Olympic and World silver medallist.

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Jane Bridge Top picks for the gold medal: Irina DOLGOVA (RUS), Milica NIKOLIC (SRB), Shira RISHONY (ISR) Possible underdog: Marusa STANGAR (SLO)

Judoka