Judoka of the week: Ludwig Paischer (AUT)

Last week Ludwig Paischer won the IJF Grand Slam of Rio de Janeiro. “Lupo” beat Hiroaka Hiroaki (JPN) again after he had beaten the Hiroaki at the World Cup in Vienna in 2008. For Paischer it has been a long time since he won a title, besides becoming Austrian champion, it was in Lisbon at the European Championships last year when he finished on the highest stage. At the Olympic Games he lost the final and at the Grand Slam in Paris he finished third, just like in Tbilisi at the European Championships.

The victory helps Paischer to get a top seat at the World Championships. The Austrian fighter about his win: “I’m happy to finally win a tournament again. The techniques also worked out. Obviously our choice to build up our programme towards the world championships is working. But I can only
confirm that if I’m at the highest stage again in August in Rotterdam.”

In Rio Paischer could enjoy some winter sun and rest at the beach of Barra da Tijuca and enjoying the beach courts and other nice ‘eyes massages’ Rio has to offer.

Profile Ludwig Paischer (AUT)
Weight: 60kg
Age: 27

Major honours:
Silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
2004 and 2008 European Champion, in total 6 medals
Silver at the 2005 World Championships in Cairo
Bronze at the 2007 World Championships in Rio

9 World Cup wins, 20 medals.
8 national Austrian titles
Twice Military World Champion

Major rivals for the World title:
Yekutiel Gal (ISR), Pavel Petrikov (CZE), Nestor Khergiani and Amiran Papinashvili (GEO), Ruben Houkes (NED), Jeroen Mooren (NED), James Millar (GBR), Arsen Galstyan (RUS), Elio Verde (ITA), Rishod Sobirov (UZB), Min-Ho Choi (KOR), Yasmani Piker (CUB), Hiroaki Hiroaka (JPN).

Besides Ludwig Paischer you will find many other Europeans leading the new IJF World Ranking.