The Official Draw for Tbilisi Grand Prix 2018
The Tbilisi Grand Prix will be the focus of the judo world from Friday to Sunday with 302 judoka from 38 nations set to contest the fifth edition of Georgia’s revered leg of the IJF World Judo Tour.
Following Grand Slam events in Paris (France), Düsseldorf (Germany), Ekaterinburg (Russia) and Grand Prix events in Tunis (Tunisia) and Agadir (Morocco), the third Grand Prix of the fast-paced 2018 season will emanate from Tbilisi with Antalya, Turkey, to host their Grand Prix instalment next week.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualification phase opens at the end of May with the second edition of the Hohhot Grand Prix from 25 - 27 May and from there the stakes are at an all-time high. Before then this back-to-back Grand Prix series is a crucial juncture as young judoka are entering the fray and are looking to throw their names in the 2020 mix while standout champions from judo's leading nations have domestic rivals to contend with on the road to Japan's first Olympiad since 1964 when judo debuted as an Olympic sport.
Hosts Georgia have picked 39 judoka (28 men and 11 women) with London 2012 Olympic champion and Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Lasha SHAVDATUASHVILI (GEO) and World Judo Masters winner Guram TUSHISHVILI leading the home team on the tatami in the absence of the injured duo of Varlam LIPARTELIANI and Beka GVINIASHVILI.
Mohamed MERIDJA (above - centre), IJF Education and Coaching Director, made the opening address on behalf of the International Judo Federation.
“Good afternoon everyone, it is a pleasure to be here in Georgia for the 2018 edition of the Tbilisi Grand Prix. On behalf of our President Marius L. VIZER, I wish you all good luck for the competition, I thank you all for your support and wish the best for your athletes.”
David KEVKHISHVILI (above - centre), Georgian Judo Federation President, said: “Hello everyone, I welcome you all to Tbilisi for our Grand Prix. I would like to thank the IJF for their support and appreciate your attendance and visit to our country. I wish good luck to all the competitions and hope you all have an enjoyable stay in Georgia.”
London 2012 Olympic champion Sarah MENEZES (BRA), world champion Clarisse AGBEGNENOU (FRA), two-time Olympic medallist Audrey TCHEUMEO (FRA), former world champion Asley GONZALEZ (CUB) and Portuguese flyer FONSECA Jorge are among the stars in action over the next three days.
PREVIEW: WOMEN
-48kg
One-time Grand Prix winner Milica NIKOLIC (SRB) starts the lightest weight category as the top seed as the world number six is the highest ranked -48kg judoka in the competition. The 23-year-old Serbian won the Zagreb Grand Prix back in 2016 and, having won bronze at the inaugural Düsseldorf Grand Slam last month, has a platform to launch a Grand Prix title bid in Georgia. The other Düsseldorf bronze medallist, Melanie CLEMENT (FRA), will also compete on day one and needs to win IJF World Judo Tour gold for the first time to truly become France’s number one at -48kg. London 2012 Olympic champion Sarah MENEZES (BRA) is back down at -48kg after spending the 2017 season campaigning at -52kg and will hope to rediscover her medal-winning form.
-52kg
Paris Grand Slam silver medallist Amandine BUCHARD (FRA) looks set for a full Olympic cycle settled in the -52kg category. Since fading away in the Rio 2016 cycle the 22-year-old former -48kg judoka has only fought in the -52kg category and is now in the best form of her career. The world number three has medalled at her last three IJF events (Tokyo bronze, Masters silver, Paris silver) for a bumper World Ranking List points haul, and will be targeting a fourth Grand Prix victory on Friday. World number 13 Angelica DELGADO (USA) has won two Grand Prix bronze medals and the Rio 2016 Olympian knows the importance of starting to regularly win medals outside of Pan America. Former Junior World Championships silver medallist Mariam JANASHVILI (GEO) will be among the home judoka to look out for on day one. The 22-year-old has been given a handful of starts by her country at the senior level and has finished fifth and seventh at Georgia’s Grand Prix.
-57kg
World number four Helene RECEVEAUX (FRA) makes her second IJF World Judo Tour appearance in 2018 this weekend. World bronze medallist RECEVEAUX finished fifth at home in Paris and will be confident of returning to winning ways in Georgia with realistic ambitions of winning a third Grand Prix title. Former world bronze medallist Sanne VERHAGEN (NED) missed the 2017 season through injury and has suffered early exits at her two competitions in 2018 in Düsseldorf and Ekaterinburg. The Dutchwoman could turn the corner this weekend with a medal in Georgia and with a ranking of 71 in the world will be unseeded but highly-dangerous. Agadir Grand Prix winner Timna NELSON LEVY (ISR), The Hague Grand Prix silver medallist Theresa STOLL (GER), Tashkent Grand Prix winner Anna BOROWSKA (POL) and u23 European Championships winner Amelie STOLL (GER) will all be seeded with Europe set to have a stranglehold of the category in Tbilisi.
-63kg
World champion Clarisse AGBEGNENOU (FRA) has returned from a training camp with her national team in Japan and is ready to win more gold on the IJF World Judo Tour. The seven-time Grand Prix winner eased to victory in Paris last month and could be even more dominant in Georgia. Four-time Oceania Championships winner Katharina HAECKER (AUS) will be the number two seed and has all colours of Grand Prix honours except gold. The Rio 2016 Olympian managed to achieve the best result of her career last time out with silver at the Agadir Grand Prix and will be determined not to leave Tbilisi empty-handed. Abu Dhabi Grand Slam silver medallist Lucy RENSHALL (GBR) and Junior world bronze medallist Lubjana PIOVESANA (GBR) are two growing forces in this Olympic cycle while 19-year-old Mzia BEBOSHVILI (GEO) can expect a rapturous ovation after her famous European Youth Olympic Festival win at home in Tbilisi in 2015 endeared her to the entire country.
-70kg
Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Marie Eve GAHIE (FRA) starts as the top seed in the -70kg category as she bids for her first IJF gold medal since 2016. The 21-year-old won the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam as a teenager with both of her Grand Prix wins also coming in 2016. World number four GAHIE is a clear favourite for gold with the second seed being world number 22 Gemma HOWELL (GBR). London 2012 Olympian HOWELL, 27, took bronze at the Tunis Grand Prix and is a seven-time Grand Prix medallist but has never won gold. Former world number one Kelita ZUPANCIC (CAN) won her last IJF medal over a year ago with silver at the 2017 Paris Grand Slam and has to establish some consistency on the circuit with the Olympic qualification phase looming. Düsseldorf Grand Slam bronze medallist Szaundra DIEDRICH (GER), Irish Open winner Megan FLETCHER (IRI) and Hohhot Grand Prix bronze medallist Natascha AUSMA (NED) could find a route onto the medal podium.
-78kg
Paris Grand Slam winner Audrey TCHEUMEO (FRA) is the top seed in the -78kg category with teammate Madeleine MALONGA (FRA), bronze medal winner in France, the number two seed. TCHEUMEO is one of the most decorated active judoka in women’s judo with two Olympic medals (bronze and silver), World Championships gold, five Grand Slam titles and six Grand Slam gold medals. The 27-year-old has placed at her last 11 events and should control the category in Tbilisi. MALONGA can only keep winning medals and pushing her teammate and has been doing just that with France possessing an abundance of world-class judoka in one of their strongest divisions. Agadir Grand Prix silver medallist Anastasiya TURCHYN (UKR) has been part of a wave of medals for her country in 2018 and will be tipped for one more on Sunday.
+78kg
Tunis Grand Prix winner Maryna SLUTSKAYA (BLR) will come out of the draw first as the highest ranked judoka present in the +78kg category in Georgia. European champion SLUTSKAYA is ranked sixth in the world and is routinely in the medal hunt on the IJF World Judo Tour as her ranking suggests. The Belarus judoka is also the defending Tbilisi gold medallist from a year ago and will do everything in her powers to retain her title on Sunday. Agadir Grand Prix winner Yelyzaveta KALANINA (UKR) won her first IJF World Judo Tour gold medal in her last competition and continues to go from strength to strength in the women’s heaviest weight category. The 23-year-old looks more imposing with every event and could well be one of her country’s top medal hopes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
PREVIEW: MEN
-60kg
Four-time Grand Prix winner Amiran PAPINASHVILI (GEO) has never won Georgia’s leg of the IJF World Judo Tour with silver in 2017 and bronze in 2016 and a fifth-place in 2015. The former European champion will be first on the tatami for the hosts and could earn the best result at the three-day competition if he can get into his rhythm during the preliminaries. Düsseldorf Grand Slam bronze medallist Lukhumi CHKHVIMIANI (GEO) has outperformed his teammate PAPINASHVILI in 2018 and starts day one as the defending champion from 2017. Two-time Grand Slam bronze medallist CHKHVIMIANI is chasing down his colleague on the ranking list and needs to win his second Grand Prix title to all but guarantee a place on the plane to the European Championships in April. Former World Judo Masters silver medallist Vincent LIMARE (FRA) has to pick up medals in 2018 on the IJF World Judo Tour if he has his sights on major honours in the sport and Tbilisi represents a perfect event for him to return to form.
-66kg
World Judo Masters bronze medallist Vazha MARGVELASHVILI (GEO) won his home Grand Prix in 2016 and has since won the European Championships and a second Grand Prix title. World number three MARGVELASHVILI, 24, is by far the most lauded judoka in -66kg action this weekend and the ippons could flow for the Georgian star. Junior world champion Daniel CARGNIN (BRA) is part of a new-look Brazilian team which is bursting with highly-touted youngsters. Pan American champion Osniel SOLIS (CUB) has not been able to duplicate his form from Pan America on the world stage and needs to find a remedy for that to keep his Olympic hopes alive.
-73kg
London 2012 Olympic champion and Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Lasha SHAVDATUASHVILI (GEO) is one of the most famed Georgian judoka of all time. The world number five won the Olympics at the age of 20 in his first full year on the senior stage and won bronze at the category above four years later. SHAVDATUASHVILI, 26, took silver at the World Judo Masters in December and the same colour medal at the Paris Grand Slam in February and is in a great position to launch his bid for a third consecutive Olympic medal at Tokyo 2020. Tashkent Grand Prix silver medallist Giyosjon BOBOEV (UZB) won here a year ago and the world number seven is back to defend his title knowing that there will be four Georgian representatives to contend with and opposition from all corners of the world. Ekaterinburg Grand Slam silver medallist Ferdinand KARAPETIAN (ARM) has caught the eye in 2018 by winning back-to-back Grand Slam medals to move up to 18th place in the world and the Armenian is poised to be in medal contention on the Grand Prix stage this weekend.
-81kg
World Judo Masters bronze medallist Alan KHUBETSOV (RUS) is eying a fifth Grand Prix gold medal when he takes to the tatami on Saturday. The world number four took silver a year ago but could have things all his own way this time around with Ekaterinburg Grand Slam bronze medallist Zebeda REKHVIASHVILI (GEO) looking like his toughest opponent. REKHVIASHVILI has won four Grand Slam medals and as many Grand Prix medals but is yet to register in the gold medal column. Agadir Grand Prix bronze medallist Anri EGUTIDZE (POR) can expect a positive reaction from the crowd when his Georgian family name is announced and that could spur him on to win a second Grand Prix career medal. Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Nugzari TATALASHVILI (GEO) moved up from -73kg last year and is gradually establishing himself with the pick of his results being the aforementioned return in France.
-90kg
Agadir Grand Prix silver medallist Ciril GROSSKLAUS (SUI) has won four medals on the Grand Prix stage and is still bidding for gold. The 26-year-old is ranked 28 in the world but is the number one seed this Sunday in a field which is wide open. Former world champion and Olympic silver medallist Asley GONZALEZ (CUB) returns to the tour for the first time since the 2017 Worlds and will be targeting his first IJF honour since winning the Havana Grand Prix in 2016. Former Junior World Championships winner Rafael MACEDO (BRA) has already struck on the international circuit with silver at the Zagreb Grand Prix last year and is prepared for a long day in Tbilisi on Sunday.
-100kg
Agadir Grand Prix silver medallist Jorge FONSECA (POR) could be the leading man at -100kg as he starts as the top seed on the last day of competition in Georgia. The Portuguese battering ram is one of the most spectacular performers on the IJF World Judo Tour but is still searching for his first gold medal on the international stage. FONSECA, 25, has made a bright start to 2018 and we could be treated to another powerful display from the Lisbon man in Georgia. World number 10 Ben FLETCHER (IR) has turned his career around since wearing the Irish flag for the first time in December. The former British international has won the Hong Kong Asian Open and the Tunis Grand Prix and took silver at the Düsseldorf Grand Slam. FLETCHER, 26, had a run-out at the Irish Open last weekend alongside his sister Megan FLETCHER as both left with gold and they will be dreaming of another family double this weekend. Tunis Grand Prix bronze medallist Leonardo GONCALVES (BRA) and former world silver medallist Jose ARMENTEROS (CUB) could both present a strong medal challenge on Sunday.
+100kg
World Judo Masters winner Guram TUSHISHVILI (GEO) will supercharge the heavyweight category on Sunday as the number one seed. TUSHISHVILI finds himself at something of a quandary after losing his last three contests with no medal in 2018. The 23-year-old finished fifth in Paris and lost his first contest at the Ekaterinburg Grand Slam and has home comforts for his third attempt to grab an IJF World Judo Tour medal this year. The Georgian star has won a European Championships, Masters and a Grand Slam but is missing a Grand Prix title and missing a Grand Prix medal all together. It’s worth noting that TUSHISHVILI has never fought at a Grand Prix in the heavyweight category with -100kg outings at Tbilisi 2014, Samsun 2014, Qingdao 2015, Jeju 2015 and Havana 2016, before he moved up to +100kg at the end of 2016. World number seven Maciej SARNACKI (POL) will be a threat as a three-time Grand Prix medallist while Stanislav BONDARENKO (UKR) is a nine-time Grand Prix medallist including one gold from the 2016 Budapest Grand Prix. Former World Judo Masters winner Adam OKRUASHVILI (GEO) and former Tbilisi Grand Prix winner Levani MATIASHVILI (GEO) could both walk away with honours in the last final of the Tbilisi Grand Prix 2018.
PROGRAMME
Friday 30 March
Preliminary rounds - 11:00
Final Block - 16:00
Saturday 31 March
Preliminary rounds - 11:00
Final Block - 16:00
Sunday 1 April
Preliminary rounds - 11:00
Final Block - 16:00