As I logged on this morning, to check the draw, JudoTV presented me with a feast of judo! Round 1, fight 1, mat 1 and world champion Jessica Klimkait (CAN) is tasked with opening the show. She’s up against Batsukh (UAE), strong and resilient and not afraid of anyone, even the world number two, Klimkait.
Klimkait (CAN) becoming world champion in 2021.

On mat 3 there’s the up and coming French junior Eliot Preve against Abu Dhabi grand slam bronze medallist Mammadaliyev (AZE) at -73 kg and on mat 5 the ever-present Marcus Nyman (SWE), a double world medallist and 5-time grand slam winner. That’s all in round 1!

One of Nyman's grand slam victories: Baku 2022.

So, I scroll down a little and under those well known names I see the fight two contestants for each mat and the list includes Tamaoki (JPN), a world and Masters medallist, a triple Asian champion who won her home grand slam in 2019 and would love to do it again.

Momo Tamaoki (JPN) winning gold on home ground in 2019 at the Osaka Grand Slam.

In the 3rd set of contests, mat 1 gives us the newly crowned European champion at -57 kg, Daria Kurbonmamadova (AIN), mat 2 offers the exciting Dominican Del Orbe Cortorreal and mat 5 serves up Olympic silver medallist Eduard Trippel (GER) and so it goes on. This is the quality of the Tokyo Grand Slam. Round after round from the very beginning of each day we have the privilege of the world’s best judoka fighting not only for the obvious points and medals but also simply because there is honour in competing in the home of judo and winning in Tokyo means something; it’s something special.

Don’t miss it! To have the full experience, sign up for your premium JudoTV account today. Get involved with the prediction league and have the added features of the archive, the side stories, statistics and replays. Tokyo is the place to be and if you can’t be there in person, JudoTV.com has got you covered.

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