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It’s the third stop on the IJF World Judo Tour 2025, and we can already promise some of the best judo for spectators between the 28th of February and 2nd of March. From Olympic to recent Grand Slam gold medallists, there is an array of talent in Tashkent.
Israel are sending a star-studded women’s team, four of which will be taking the top seeding positions in their respective categories. Starting with Gefen PRIMO at -52kg, she will be followed by Timna NELSON-LEVY at -57kg, there was a huge relief for Nelson-Levy in the Paris Grand Slam, as she was finally awarded for efforts and could add a Paris medal to her collection. Jumping to -78kg, Olympic silver medallist, Inbar LANIR will head her category, and Olympic bronze medallist, Raz HERSHKO will lead the +78kg, the latter is in fact the top ranked of the entire tournament.
Within Lani’s category, she had a double team from Germany, Alina BOEHM and Anna Monta OLEK. Olek made a swift rise to the top before the Paris Olympic Games, however even a top 10 place couldn’t give her the ticket for Team Germany as she was behind Anna Maria WAGNER and Boehm. Now in a new cycle Olek is chasing down her team mates, beating Boehm to the gold only two weeks ago in Baku. This week they find themselves in the same half, so it’ll be a competition for the final position.
Like Team Israel, the IJF Team take four places for the men. In the lightest of the weight categories, -60kg, Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Ayub BLIEV tops the category and after a fifth place finish in the 2024 edition of the Tashkent Grand Slam he will be vying for a spot on top of the podium. European silver medallist, Danil LAVRENTEV is the top seeded athlete for -73kg but he will have stiff competition from host nation competitors; Shakhram AHADOV and Obidkhon NOMANOV. All three were on the podium last year with Lavrentev in the best position with silver.
Timur ARBUZOV is also a tremendous talent but at -81kg, the 20 year-old having already made big steps on the senior circuits with multiple Grand Slam medals including a gold in Tbilisi last year. Finally, Matvey KANIKOVSKIY will be one to watch. Incredibly, Kanikovskiy has not missed out on a medal since 2021 when he became Junior European Champion, the collection includes nine medals on a the IJF World Judo Tour and a Senior European title, the most recent a win in the Tokyo Grand Slam.
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Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen