This week we will see the return of the IJF World Judo Tour, following an incredible World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, now heading east to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia!
The Grand Slam will be welcoming 238 athletes from 28 nations, including some judo royalty; Patricia SAMPAIO (POR). The current European Champion took an Olympic bronze in 2024 and has continued with her collection of major medal in 2025 with a world bronze. The world ranked #3 in the -78kg category is arguably one of the most entertaining, not only with her judo but exuberant personality which is reflected on the tatami. She will have tough competition however from the likes of UMEKI Mami (JPN) who has been successful on the IJF Tour now for 16 years, the 2015 World Champion most recently claimed bronze medals in the Tokyo and Baku Grand Slam.
We are certainly seeing a transition now in this new cycle, with younger athletes rising in the categories, as we see in the -57kg line up; Pihla SALONEN (FIN), Ana Viktorija PULJIZ (CRO) and Kseniia GALITSKAIA (IJF) in the top four. One to watch in the -63kg category is Friederike STOLZE (GER) who gave a convincing performance in the World Championships, seeing out Savita RUSSO (ITA) and Angelika SYMANSKA (POL), proving she can rival the top. Like Stolze, Helena VUKOVIC (CRO) drew gaze as she defeated the current Olympic Champion, Beatriz SOUZA (BRA) in the World Championships.
Though he will be sandwiched between Azerbaijan’s Balabay AGHAYEV and Turan BAYRAMOV, the Qazaqstan Barysy and Abu Dhabi Grand Slam winner, Iznaur SAAEV (IJF) will be a major threat in the -60kg category. After a sad ending in the European Championships in April, it’s good to see Denis VIERU (MDA) back int he running and leading the -66kg category in Mongolia, but he is backed up by their top athletes; BATTOGTOKH Erkhembayar and YONDONPERENLEI Baskhuu. Not only that but European medallist PONGRACZ Bence (HUN) and 2022 European Champion, Bogdan IADOV (UKR).
The -100kg category will have a strong finish with the likes of Anton SAVYTSKIY (UKR) and Nikoloz SHERAZADISHVILI (ESP) leading the group. If seeding is undisturbed for the world ranked #9 and #11, it could make for an interesting head to head as they have yet to meet in competition.
Rounding out the heavy weight men we have the 2024 Junior World Champion, Denis BATCHAEV (IJF) at the top of the entry, and will be joined by Saba KARDAVA (GEO) was also stood on the junior world podium to claim bronze. This is another pair that have not found themselves in a head to head in competition, despite frequenting the same events.
Author: Thea Cowen