It may have felt as if we just left the Paris Olympic Games 2024 behind, the culmination of years of hard work and the euphoria of the multi-sport event, however the next generation are chomping at the bit to get started on the next cycle, with their eyes on the LA 2028 prize.
With most of the top ranked in the world still having a well deserved rest after gruelling performances in Paris, the highest ranked of the entries is Croatia’s World silver medallist, Lara CVJETKO in the Zagreb Grand Prix 2024. Her counterpart in the -70kg category, Barbara MATIC, claimed the Olympic gold in Paris, and have both been on top form during the qualification period, but now it looks like it could be Cvjetko’s era. She will be joined in this category by TANAKA Shiho (JPN) and Katarzyna SOBIERAJSKA (POL), as well as some other up and comers in this weight category such as 2023 Junior European Champion, Kaja SCHUSTER (SLO). It is also interesting to see that Grand Slam silver medallist, Giorgia STANGHERLIN (ITA) has made the move down from -78kg for this event.
Instead, Irene CALEO (ITA) will be filling the -78kg spot, but will have a tough day ahead with Croatia’s duo; Petrunjela PAVIC and Karla PRODAN who are residing in the #1 and #3 seeding places. Between them is Lieke DERKS (NED) who is coming back on the scene following surgery, team mate, Sanne VAN DIJKE will be joining Derks in the -78kg category, a step up from her usual -70kg weight class.
Zagreb will be graced by Galiya TYNBAYEVA (KAZ) who has really found her place in the -48kg category this year, securing a bronze medal in the Tbilisi Grand Slam before winning over the home crowd with a stunning gold in the Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam, and she will be looking for her first Grand Prix gold this week. She will however, need to see out top competition from KOGA Wakana (JPN) as well as Andreja STOJADINOV (SRB).
Croatia hold another top spot, this time in the -52kg with Ana Viktorija PULJIZ, and after a tremendous start to the year, it looks likely she will continue to climb the ranking and be a clear contender in the next cycle. It looks to be a major turn in this category, with the likes of Aydan VALIYEVA (AZE), GYERTYAS Roza (HUN) and Ayumi LEIVA SANCHEZ (ESP) coming up in the top seeded places to establish themselves. We will also see the return of Mireia LAPUERTA COMAS (ESP) but this time in the -52kg, we are yet to find out if this will be a permanent change or simply a relaxed return to the tour.
The Croatian stronghold continues once again in the -63kg with Iva OBERAN who was in a tight competition with team mate Katarina KRISTO, the latter taking the Olympic position and finishing in 5th place. Oberan will be joined by Israel’s Inbal SHEMESH, as well as two French athletes likely hoping to replace Clarisse AGBEGNENOU as the next superstar of France; Manon DEKETER and Gaetane DEBERDT. There are in fact a few examples of potential national rivalries in this cycle already! After an exciting win of the Paris Grand Slam, Faiza MOKDAR (FRA) put herself on the senior map and will be leading the -57kg category this weekend.
In the +78kg category, the host nation have a quadruple threat; Helena VUKOVIC, Ivana SUTALO and Tina RADIC all hold seeded positions in the upcoming Grand Prix, but an outsider is Marcelina VRANJES. The latter may be ranked #170 as a senior, but only last week she claimed a continental championships medal in the Junior European Championships.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen