–90 kg: Safrany Carries Hungary’s Hopes
Hungary’s Peter Safrany arrives in Qingdao as the number 1 seed and one of the nation’s brightest judo prospects. A junior world champion in 2021 and finalist again in 2022, he claimed his first grand slam medal in Ulaanbaatar in 2023. Now leading the –90 kg field, he carries both the weight of expectation and the motivation to prove himself at senior level. He could meet teammate Gergely Merpel as early as the second round, provided Merpel gets past China’s Haicheng Qin in his opener.
The hosts also have high hopes in pool B, led by Jiaze Song. In pool C, Chinese Taipei’s Peng-Yu Chen will look to secure his first international medal, while Bahrain’s Israpil Sagaipov, a bronze medallist in Mongolia this summer, stands out as the man to beat in Pool D.
–78 kg: Reid and Tcheumeo Bring Experience and Prestige
The –78 kg category will feature some of the most experienced judoka of the weekend. At the top of the draw is Emma Reid (GBR), who will be aiming to add yet another World Judo Tour medal to her impressive collection. A world bronze medallist in 2024 and a seven-time medallist at grand slams and grand prix, she now seeks her first ever gold at a grand prix, a challenge in itself.
Another major name is France’s Audrey Tcheumeo, whose longevity and achievements speak for themselves. A double Olympic medallist, with silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in London 2012, she also claimed the world title back in 2011 on home soil in Paris. Over the course of her extraordinary career, Tcheumeo has amassed an astonishing 37 World Judo Tour medals, a record that underlines both her consistency and her class.
The other two top seeds in the category are Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko (UAE) and Minju Kim (KOR), both capable of challenging for podium places.
–100 kg: Kostoev Leads the Charge in Qingdao
Dzhafar Kostoev (UAE) came agonisingly close to his first senior world championship podium at the OTP Bank World Championships 2025 in Hungary, narrowly missing out on bronze. Yet his steady rise on the World Judo Tour, including six grand slam medals, two of them gold, has earned him top seeding in Qingdao. Should he reach the podium, it would mark his first medal at a grand prix.
If he clears the elimination rounds, Kostoev could meet Said Sadrudinov (BRN) in the semi-final, with the Bahraini also chasing his first grand prix medal.
In the lower half of the draw, Dzhakhongir Madzhidov (TJK) will spearhead the Tajik challenge, while Hungary’s junior world medallist Zsombor Veg will be aiming to push his nation’s colours as high as possible.
+78 kg: France, Korea and China Battle for Supremacy
The final women’s category will showcase three powerful schools of judo, Korea, France and China, and it is difficult to predict who will emerge on top.
Top seed Hyeonji Lee (KOR) is following in the footsteps of her compatriot Hayun Kim, who captured the world title in Budapest. Lee herself is already a world champion at cadet and junior level and now looks to establish her credentials on the senior stage.
France’s Léa Fontaine may not yet have a world title to her name but with 11 World Judo Tour medals, she is undoubtedly one of the favourites in Qingdao. Her consistency and power make her a formidable contender.
Meanwhile, the Chinese representatives, Shaohan Sun, Xiaohan Shang, Jinesinuer Ayiman and Ye Liang, in front of their home crowd, will be determined to prove that Chinese judo has many strong years ahead.
+100 kg: Yusupov Brings Power
Double world medallist (2023, 2024) and Olympic medallist at the Paris 2024 Games, Alisher Yusupov (UZB) is one of the most reliable names in the heavyweight arena. In Qingdao, he will look to reaffirm his status at the very top. With his explosiveness and lightning-fast counter-attacks, he remains a constant threat to any opponent.
Poland’s Grzegorz Teresiński reached the podium in Kazakhstan earlier this year and finished just short of it in Mongolia. He will once again aim for a medal but in Qingdao the question is, what colour will it be?
The lower half of the draw remains wide open, with Mongolia’s Gonchigsuren Batkhuyag, winner on home soil at the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam in July, and Korea’s Seungyeob Lee, the Asian champion crowned in Bangkok this April, both in strong contention.
There is a wealth of athletes on display on day 3. Follow all the action on the IJF’s comprehensive platform JudoTV.