The last and final day of the individual event will showcase the women’s +78kg category and men’s +100kg category. Focusing on the ladies, the entry shows a total of 41 judoka, 16 of which are European.
The past five world championships were dominated by Asia in the +78kg category, except last year, where French ace, Romane DICKO set the new tone. She returns to the world scene with two targets on her back, being ranked #1 and keeping the red back number. Her compatriot Julia TOLOFUA is a world bronze medallist herself. Unless the entry changes, she is likely to face double world medallist, Beatriz SOUZA of Brazil in the quarter finals, which will be a key step towards a potential all-French final.
Europe has additional medal hopes, such as double world medallist, Kayra SAYIT (TUR) who stormed Antalya last month defeating Dicko on her way to gold, 2022 European silver medallist, Raz HERSHKO (ISR) and 2018 world bronze medallist, Larisa CERIC (BIH). There is the Dutch duet as well to keep an eye on, Marit KAMPS and Karen STEVENSON. The latter is making her debut at the senior world stage in Doha.
Now, Idalys ORTIZ of Cuba is entering the field of play unseeded, which given her record, she can practically wipe all European potentials and possible predictions away. This will be topped with more overseas troubles, for example Olympic and World Champion SONE Akira (JPN) as well as sturdy duet of China, XU Shiyan and SU Xin.
Judoka
Author: Szandra Szogedi