The General Director of the International Judo Federation (IJF), Vlad Marinescu, made the welcome speech and got straight to the point. “This amazing tournament would not be possible without the constant support of the government and the Abu Dhabi Sport Council. For that, thank you very much. This event comes just a few days after the tremendous world championships and it is satisfying to see that more than 400 athletes have come. This underlines the importance of Abu Dhabi on the international calendar and we, the International Judo Federation, its President, Marius Vizer, and the entire World Judo Tour, congratulate ourselves for it.”
Precisely, as General Treasurer, Naser Al Tamimi is one of the mainstays of the IJF and one of the reasons why Abu Dhabi celebrates this competition year after year. Mr Al Tamimi stressed that, “the grand slam grows and improves every year and this is possible thanks to the support of the IJF. The success of the tournament is guaranteed by the massive presence of delegations from all over the world.”
Said in figures, there will be 414 judoka from 65 countries, a modern stadium, three tatami and right now we give you the schedules so that you can get up on time. On the first day, the preliminaries will debut at 10am and on Saturday and Sunday they will debut at 11am. The final block, as usual, will start each day at 5pm. As for the content, we offer you a taste of what you should see, or if you prefer, the things that are better not to miss in this Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2022.
-48kg
Who can say who will come out with the laurels on their head in the -48kg category? Nobody, as the number of contenders for the podium is high. We suggest a few names: Julia Figueroa (ESP), fifth in Tashkent, Mélanie Legoux Clément (FRA), winner in Tbilisi, Assunta Scutto (ITA), bronze medallist in Tashkent and silver at the junior worlds, Catarina Costa (POR) European silver medallist, Milica Nikolic (SRB), seventh in Tashkent, Shira Rishony (ISR), five time grand slam bronze medallist and on and on and on...
-52kg
The categories follow each other and resemble each other. In the -52kg group, in the absence of recent world medallists, we can expect a fierce battle between Diyora Keldiyorova (UZB), Gefen Primo (ISR), Astrid Gneto (FRA), Fabienne Kocher (SUI) and even Odette Giuffrida (ITA). Some want to forget Tashkent quickly and focus on the future, others want to be remembered. Whatever the reasons, the motivation will be there and we can expect a good tussle.
-57kg
It will be the great return of Olympic champion Nora Gjakova (KOS) who has not been seen since her coronation in Tokyo last year. What form will she be in? We will know soon. Facing her we will find the youth of Eteri Liparteliani (GEO) or the experience of Telma Monteiro (POR). Priscilla Gneto (FRA) could also be talked about.
-63kg
Many of the names present on the starting line are already known to judo fans. Lucy Renshall (GBR), Gili Sharir (ISR) and Katharina Haecker (AUS) have all been on international podia. A priori, we should find them again in the final block but in what order? It’s hard to say. What is certain is that in the absence of Clarisse Agbégnénou (FRA) and Tina Trstenjak (SLO), many athletes are willing to take the lead.
-70kg
To see Kim Polling (NED) on the World Judo Tour again is great. It's actually fantastic news. One of the most prolific athletes of her generation, she became a mum recently and she is now back. Welcome back Kim! In the meantime Kelly Petersen Pollard (GBR) or Michaela Polleres (AUT) seem to be the most likely to win medals.
-78kg
After the failure of Madeleine Malonga (FRA) in Tashkent, it is Audrey Tcheumeo who is back in service in Abu Dhabi. Will she be able to follow the example of Mayra Aguiar (BRA) who won the worlds in style a few days ago? With Andrey everything is possible. To block her way there could be Inbar Lanir (ISR), Natalie Powell (GBR) or Emma Reid (GBR), without forgetting the recent silver medallist from Tashkent, Zhenzhao Ma (CHN).
+78kg
France recently took the lion's share in the +78kg category, with the outright victory of Romane Dicko (FRA) in Tashkent, as well as the beautiful bronze medal of Julia Tolofua (FRA). These Frenchwomen can hide another though, as it is Léa Fontaine who will be seeded number one in Abu Dhabi. This emulation between the French women clearly has a positive impact on their results. Who can stop them?
-60kg
Yung Wei Yang (TPE) is not world number one for nothing. Third in Tashkent recently, Olympic silver medallist last year in Tokyo, he will undoubtedly be the man to beat in Abu Dhabi. With the numbers 4, 6 and 8 in the world ranking, respectively, Jorre Verstraeten (BEL), Francisco Garrigos (ESP) and Temur Nazadze (GEO), we can expect a very tough tournament during which the outsiders could play the troublemakers.
-66kg
In the absence of the tenors of the category and particularly the two Japanese, Abe and Maruyama, who offered us a beautiful final in Tashkent, the -66kg category remains very open. There are a lot of points to take and places in the ranking to consolidate. In this context, the presence of many European athletes among the top seeds seems to open the doors of the podium to the old continent, but in judo nothing is ever written in advance. To be continued...
-73kg
The Tashkent medallists are resting; what could be more natural? The door is therefore wide open for lower-ranked athletes to rush in and recover precious places in the world rankings. Giorgi Terashvili (GEO) for example, finished second at the recent World Junior Championships in Guayaquil. He is already the number one seed in Abu Dhabi. The silver medallist at the European Championships, Giovanni Esposito (ITA), or Arthur Margelidon (CAN), seventh in Tashkent and already a five-time grand slam medallist, will be the men to watch.
-81kg
We have been repeating it for months that the -81kg category is undoubtedly the most uncertain on the circuit as the number of contenders for the podium is high. Once again during the World Championships in Tashkent, on the eve of the competition no-one could say what the outcome would be, even if afterwards we noticed that we witnessed the same final as last year, a final that will go down in the annals of history as one of the best matches global judo has seen. In Abu Dhabi, we will follow Sami Chouchi (BEL) carefully, in the shadow of his illustrious teammate Matthias Casse, resting after his world silver medal, and Frank De wit (NED), of whom we already know that he will not spare his efforts. For the rest of the troops, the games are open and no one can say who will be on the podium.
-90kg
There are some heavy guys in the -90kg category. Beka Gviniashvili (GEO), first in Tbilisi in June, third in Budapest in July and winner in Zagreb, is the big favourite. Komronshokh Ustopiryon (TJK) could disrupt things, while Jesper Smink (NED) who started the season well with a win in Portugal before slowing the pace, and former world champion, Nemanja Majdov (SRB), are willing to show that they must always be counted on.
-100kg
The Canadians are on a world tour. After the World Championships where they obtained four well deserved medals, here they are again in action. Shady Elnahas (CAN) is seeded number one, which gives him some advantage but just two places further on we find a certain Kyle Reyes (CAN). If that means nothing to you, it is the vice-world champion, for whom victory escaped by almost nothing. So it could be a fight at the top for the Canadians? Maybe but that will not be the opinion of Onise Saneblidze (GEO) or double world champion Nikoloz Sherazadashvili (ESP) who continues to try to find his way in his new category after a disappointing world championships.
+100kg
There are some strong people in the heavyweights. Although the Japanese are not there, although Teddy Riner is still recovering, although, although... Remur Rakhimov (TJK), Jur Spijkers (NED), Yakiv Khammo (UKR), Vladut Simionescu (ROU) and Johannes Frey (GER) have all already demonstrated their ability to throw and throw well. Ah yes, let's not forget the double Olympic champion Lukas Krpalek (CZE) who wants to forget his mistakes in Tashkent.
Now you know, now it is up to you.