Author: Wolfgang Eichler
The IJF Judo World Tour is coming to the Tips Arena in Linz for the fourth time. The Upper Austria Judo Grand Prix 2026 will take place from 6 to 8 March, with 502 judoka from 62 nations expected to attend. Host nation Austria has by far the largest contingent with 42 competitors, followed by Italy (23), Germany, Japan and Kazakhstan (20 each). IJF President Marius Vizer has announced his attendance, as has Tokyo-based 2008 Olympic silver medallist Ludwig ‘Lupo’ Paischer. With Michaela Polleres (-70kg) seeded fifth and Bernd Fasching (-81kg) seeded seventh, two Austrian aces are set to compete in their ‘home game’.
Lubjana ‘Lulu’ Piovesana (-63kg), ranked 12th in the world and thus the highest-ranked Judo Austria athlete, has to sit out due to an ankle injury on her left leg, while Elena Dengg (-78kg) underwent surgery
after tearing the meniscus in her right knee. Both are missing from the Judo Austria squad.
Local hero, Samuel Gaßner (-73kg), on the other hand, should be fit in time. The concussion he suffered at the Grand Slam in Paris seems to be finally over. “In terms of judo, I was in better shape before Paris but I am no longer in pain. I feel fit, the first randori sessions went smoothly, so nothing should stand in the way of me competing,” hopes the 24-year-old Upper Austrian, who narrowly missed out on a
medal last year, finishing fifth.
“The anticipation for the home Grand Prix is palpable. Even though we can’t field our strongest team, our target is two medals, Michaela Polleres and Bernd Fasching are the top seeds and probably have the best chances,” says head coach Yvonne Snir-Bönisch.
Fasching, the 22-year-old Viennese won bronze in Linz last year, while 28-year-old Polleres stood on the podium at the Tips Arena in 2024. “I am in top form at the moment, I have scored points in each of the last three tournaments, third place from last year is my minimum goal for Saturday in Linz. The atmosphere was really cool last year, my whole family was there, the whole hall chanted my name as I marched in for the bronze medal match. This time, if possible, it should go even better,” says Bernd Fasching confidently. “I briefly glanced at the seedings and know that I am seeded number seven. Kazakh Abylaikhan Zhubanazar is number one and I lost to him in the bronze medal match at the Grand Slam in Paris at the beginning of February. Maybe I will get my revenge in Linz, in the gold medal match. Revenge is on the cards!”
Markus Achleitner, Regional Minister for Sport, emphasises the importance of the event for Upper Austria: “The fact that we are now in our fourth year is a strong indication of the high quality, professionalism and international appeal of this event. Upper Austria has a long and successful tradition in judo. Names such as Sabrina Filzmoser, Josef Reiter and Shamil and Wachid Borchashvilli stand for international success and impressive careers.”
The future of the red-white-red World Tour tournament is not yet 100% secure. The event contract with the world association expires this year. “Only if we can guarantee 100% financing for the next four years does an extension make sense. We will certainly not embark on any economic adventures,” affirms ÖJV President Martin Poiger. “But in principle, the Upper Austria Grand Prix is a unique success story, last year, we were the World Tour tournament with the most participants, ahead of the prestigious Grand Slams in Tokyo and Paris. That is something no one else has managed to achieve yet. The feedback from the participating nations has also been unanimously positive over the last three years. Superstars such as double Olympic champion Lukas Krpalek and two-time former world champion Anna-Maria Wagner have declared themselves to be absolute fans of Linz!”
Author: EJU Media