From 27 participating nations to 44, Qazaqstan is welcoming over a hundred more athletes to their Grand Slam in Astana this week. With the draw already done, let’s look at some potentially interesting early round clashes.
The -60kg category will be led by Olympic silver medallist and 2024 World Vice Champion, YANG Yung Wei (TPE), however in his quarter he could potentially end up facing two rising stars of the category; Enzo JEAN (FRA) and Luis BARROSOS LOPEZ (ESP), the pair will face each other in the second contest of the day! They only have one previous head to head which was in the Paris Grand Slam this year, Jean came out on top and went on to take his first Grand Slam medal.
Spanish strength continues in to the -48kg category, with Julia FIGEUROA, though she has been out of action for over a year, her vast experience will likely carry her through the first round, only to face top seed and European bronze medallist in Montenegro, Assunta SCUTTO (ITA). In pool D, and if all goes in her favour, Eva PEREZ SOLER (ESP) could have a quarter final clash with GANBAATAR Narantsetseg (MGL), another very experienced judoka who took gold in the Tbilisi Grand Slam this year, defeating Perez in the final.
An interesting match up could be seen in the -52kg category between PUPP Reka (HUN) and Astride GNETO (FRA), the two have five previous head to heads in as many years, and though they are in favour of Gneto, the last on in the 2024 Senior European Championships went to Pupp.
The -73kg category will see a host of strong characters; Karen GALSTIAN (IJF) who helped his team to a bronze medal in the European Championships last month, and in the same quarter, Switzerland’s first World Champion, Nils STUMP who will take on Paris Grand Slam silver medallist, Giorgi CHIKHELIDZE (GEO) in his opening round. Another Team Georgia representative who has made waves recently is Mikheili BAKHBAKHASHVILI who shares a quarter with SZEGEDI Daniel (HUN) and Armen AGAIAN (IJF).
Jack YONEZUKA (USA) recently claimed the Panamrican and Oceania Championship title so will come in on a high to face Kazbek NAGUCHEV (UAE). Double Olympic Champion of the -81kg category, NAGASE Takanori (JPN) is also back in business in Qazaqstan, potentially preparations for the upcoming World Championships in Hungary next month.
It was a tough championships for Nemanja MAJDOV (SRB), settling for fifth place, but arguably one of the largest standing ovations the tournament had seen, now he will be reset and ready as the top seed to take on the -90kg category opponents, including Olympic medallist, Theodoros TSELIDIS (GRE). However the talent runs deep in this category with the likes of Mikhail IGOLNIKOV (IJF) and rising star, current Junior European Champion, Miljan RADULJ (SRB).
In the -63kg category it is Melkia AUCHECORNE (FRA), the awardee of Female Junior European Athlete 2024 who is knocking down the door on the senior circuit. The double Junior World Champion took her first Grand Slam medal in Paris this year, then proceeded to take second place in Dushanbe, her sights are set only on gold now.
Another junior talent is ARAI Dota (JPN) in the -100kg category, after taking the title in 2023, he took his place on the senior circuit with a slew of IJF World Judo Tour medals, but it wasn’t until this year he claimed gold in Baku, can he double his loot?
Elisavet TELTSIDOU (GRE) was forced to settle for another silver in the continental championships at -70kg, however his week she is testing the waters in -78kg. Due to the lack of ranking here, she will find herself in a vulnerable position, and in the top quarter with KIM Minju (KOR), who also finished in second place in the Asian Senior Championships.
Continuing on her sensational win in the Paris Olympic Games, Beatriz SOUZA (BRA) took the +78kg Panamerican and Oceania Championship title two weeks ago, but now we can see her back on the circuit! In the +100kg category, the entry is definitely populated by Asia, however double teams from Georgia and the IJF Team could cause some issues.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen