WHO TO LOOK AT TOMORROW ON THE THIRD DAY OF COMPETITION
The season-launching Tunis Grand Prix will reach its conclusion on Sunday with five titles up for grabs as Olympic and world medallists compete for the first time in Tunisia.
One to watch: Robert FLORENTINO (DOM) -90kg
Junior World Championships silver medallist Robert FLORENTINO (DOM) opens his season on the final day of Grand Prix action in Tunis. The 20-year-old is based in Valencia, Spain, in order to compete regularly throughout Europe and to develop his judo as he steps up full-time to the senior level this year. "I started judo when I was seven years old after trying out boxing and baseball," said FLORENTINO, his country's first ever male medallist at a World Championships.
"At the age of 17 I felt that judo would become my full-time career, this was when I really felt that I could capture medals at top events for my country.
"My dream is to win the Olympic Games. I am committed to this and will do everything I can to be there in Japan at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games."
FLORENTINO faces Jamal PETGRAVE (GBR) in the -90kg first round on Sunday morning.
WOMEN
-78kg: World number nine Karen STEVENSON (NED) is the number one seed in the women's -78kg category. STEVENSON captured a brace of Grand Prix medals last year with silver in Hohhot and bronze in Cancun and ended her year on a high by winning bronze at the invite-only World Judo Masters. Anastasiya TURCHYN (UKR) won on the Grand Prix stage twice in 2017 with victories in Tashkent and Tbilisi and the rangy world number 14 can trouble anyone with her uchi-mata. Junior European champion Klara APOTEKAR Klara (SLO) will also aim to be in medal contention as Slovenia unleash their top judoka at the season opener in Africa.
+78kg: European champion Maryna SLUTSKAYA (BLR) opened her Grand Prix gold medal account by triumphing in Tbilisi last year and the world number eight will start as the favourite in Tunis. Ekaterinburg Grand Slam bronze medallist SLUTSKAYA has Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Anamari VELENSEK (SLO) for company in the women's heavyweight category as the Slovenian is stepping onto the mat at +78kg for only the third time having won in Tashkent and scooped bronze in Cancun since moving up from -78kg after the Games. Openweight Worlds bronze medallist and home hero Nihel CHEIKH ROUHOU Nihel (TUN) will be one of her country's top medal hopes and will take to the tatami on Sunday.
MEN
-90kg: Former world silver medallist and Zagreb Grand Prix winner TOTH Krisztian (HUN) will be the man to watch in the -90kg category. The world number five finished fifth at the World Judo Masters in December and jumps right back into action as he aims for a highly-successful road to Baku 2018 and Tokyo 2020. Baku Grand Slam winner Islam BOZBAYEV (KAZ) has shown that he has the quality to win a major IJF event and now has the challenge of repeating that on a regular basis. Junior world silver medallist Robert FLORENTINO (DOM) is a young judoka with high hopes and the 20-year-old could make an impression in his third Grand Prix start.
-100kg: Tashkent Grand Prix winner Ramadan DARWISH (EGY) has medalled at every level on the IJF World Judo Tour and will be bidding for his fifth Grand Prix title when he dons his judogi on Sunday. The 29-year-old, who is ranked 13th in the world, has 11 Grand Prix medals among his collection and will be the favourite to capture gold on day three. Hong Kong Asian Open winner Benjamin FLETCHER (IRL) has followed his sister Megan in switching allegiance from Great Britain to Ireland and British Judo's Male Senior Player of the Year for 2017 will be guaranteed more competitions this year and more opportunities for honours and vital World Ranking List points.
+100kg: In the absence of Teddy Riner (FRA - Rio Olympic Champion in +100kg) and Lukas KRPALEK (CZE - Rio 2016 Olympic champion in -100kg) the favorite of the tournament will be former world bronze medallist Faicel JABALLAH (TUN), who is one of the most experienced judoka in the competition and could be lifted by home advantage.