In Croatia at the 2026 Zagreb Grand Prix the -63 kg category followed that plan exactly. Top seeds Joanne Van Lieshout (NED), Kaja Kajzer Zabkar (SLO), Iva Oberan (CRO) and Jessica Klimkait (CAN) each had a bye and two wins to arrive at the semi-finals. Van Lieshout, 2024 world champion, and Klimkait, 2021 world champion, delivered a powerful display of tactical understanding. Each could have won at any moment but it was a yuko from Klimkait that made the difference. Interestingly, both left the mat the same way, positively and with only their next contest on their mind, Klimkait the final and Van Lieshout the bronze medal contest.
Kajzer Zabkar defeated Oberan, also by a yuko. All four seeds will appear in the final block and all four will be disappointed not to reach the podium. It will be Esmigul Kuyulova (KAZ) and Anna Kriza (HUN) to stop them!
At -73 kg the landscape was completely different. Following his gold medal winning performance in Abu Dhabi, Hassan Doukkali (MAR) arrived in Zagreb as the top seed but the momentum wasn’t with him and he promptly lost to Nathan Cadignan (FRA) who then lost to Akil Gjakova (KOS). Gjakova, seeded 8th, had an outstanding morning passing Bors Dumitrescu (ROU), Nebotov (UKR), Abdulaev (UAE) and Cadignan before losing his semi-final against Giorgi Loladze (GEO). He will fight for bronze in the afternoon session.
Elsewhere in the category, Ireland’s Joshua Green had the best day of his career, without a doubt. The unseeded Irishman defeated Gombaas (HUN), Radovic (MNE), Marine (BEL) and Shuhalieiev (ESP) before winning a very tight semi-final in golden score, knocking Maxime Gobert (FRA) into the bronze medal contest. This could be considered the performance of the day, against expectations, championing the ability of an underdog in judo to break through and do something incredible.
In the -70 kg category, local hopes were carried by double world silver medallist Lara Cvjetko (CRO) a winner in Zagreb in 2023. She began well, but lost in the quarter-final against Aleksandra Kowaleska (POL). A second loss, this time in the repechage, put her out of contention and she had to settle for a seventh place finish.
At -81 kg, three of the top four reached the semi-final stage, one and four making it to the final. Francois Gauthier Drapeau (CAN) dominated from the outset, an intelligent approach to every exchange of every contest. His ura-nage against Aregba (FRA) in their quarter-final was perfection, an illustration of his judgement and precision.
On the bottom half, fourth seed Murodjon Yuldoshev (UZB) gave a gritty performance, throwing whenever he could despite making small rule infringements along the way. In his semi-final he recorded three scores against Mykhailo Svidrak (UKR), while being two penalties down, holding his line until the bell.
The final block will offer great contests featuring judoka of different styles. No medal is won until it’s really won so tune in to see all the action live on JudoTV.com from 5pm local time.