This year’s grand slam, 9th to 11th May, already promises to be electrifying before the draw is even done. 48 countries, representing all continents, have registered their athletes and among them are some exciting names, names which will magnetise the judo community this coming weekend.
Thirty-one year old world and double Olympic champion Takanori Nagase (JPN) is back on the move, making his first appearance since his magnificent Parisian summer. One could have been forgiven for expecting him to retire, with his age and back-catalogue in consideration, but Nagase does not feel finished and we will all benefit from that! His world title was won in Kazakhstan exactly ten years ago and he will be looking to mark that anniversary with a gold medal.
Beatriz Souza (BRA) won her continental championships only two weeks ago and that was her first international competition since winning the women’s heavyweight gold in Paris, joining Brazilian heroes in an exclusive group of Olympic champions, such as Menezes and Sampaio. Always well prepared and tactically efficient, Souza will only be satisfied with gold but she will face stiff opposition from French, Chinese, Japanese and Korean judoka.
Hyeonji Lee (KOR), for example, is only 18 years old but she has the cadet and junior world titles already, as well as a Paris Grand Slam medal. She’s collecting wins at an alarming rate and is clear with her intentions as she forges a straight path to Los Angeles. Beatriz Souza is likely to be among her most challenging stumbling blocks!
While Beatriz Souza was at work winning the Pan-American title two weeks ago, Christian Parlati was winning his own continental crown in Europe. Having been junior world champion in 2018 and a senior world medallist in Tashkent in 2022, Parlati is always a serious contender but has struggled to maintain consistency due to a plague of injuries. Now fit and unhindered, he’s a threat to all who stand in front of him but can he keep the momentum going after such a euphoric win in Podgorica a fortnight ago? Majdov (SRB), Tselidis (GRE) and Igolnikov (IJF) will be among the candidates for the medals and Parlati won’t find his day easy but he loves a challenge, his whole career is testament to that. The -90 kg category promises much in Astana.
Over 400 athletes will arrive in Astana in the coming days, a modern city well equipped to provide the perfect environment for world class judo.