With the season now well underway, the three days of competition promise intensity, surprises and confirmations. As always on the World Judo Tour, performances can reshape the hierarchy overnight. Before the action begins, let us take a closer look at the athletes to watch on the opening day.
-48 kg: World Number One Leads a Wide Open Field
World number one Abiba Abuzhakynova (KAZ) will enter the competition as the top seed, logically. The 2025 world silver medallist finished third in Abu Dhabi last season and remains one of the most consistent athletes in the category.
Her main rival on paper could be Laura Martinez Abelenda (ESP), winner of the Abu Dhabi grand slam last year, the same event where Abuzhakynova finished third. Their paths have crossed more than once at major competitions and Linz could well offer another chapter in that rivalry.
Fresh from her bronze medal winning performance in Tashkent last weekend, Maria Celia Laborde (USA) arrives with confidence and could challenge for a podium place again. Other athletes capable of making an impact include Eva Perez Soler (ESP), Mary Dee Vargas Ley (CHI) and Mitsuki Kondo (JPN).
-60 kg: Valadier-Picard Seeks a Strong Response
Romain Valadier-Picard (FRA) will be eager to prove that his unplaced finish in Paris earlier this season was only a minor setback. The 2025 world silver medallist has the technical depth and experience to aim for the top of the podium.
Standing in his way could be Francisco Garrigos (ESP), world champion in 2023. The Spaniard finished seventh in Linz last year, a reminder of how demanding this tournament can be. Behind these two leading names, the field is wide open and the ranking of the athletes involved suggests that surprises remain very possible.
-52 kg: Spain’s Strong Hand in the Category
Spain arrives in Austria with a strong and competitive delegation. In this category, Ayumi Leiva Sanchez (ESP) could be one of the leading contenders. She enjoyed success at the Guadalajara Grand Prix in 2025 with a silver medal and will look to repeat that level of performance in Linz, but aiming for gold this time.
World bronze medallist Roza Gyertyas (HUN) will also aim for a breakthrough result and could capture her first grand prix gold medal. Evelyn Beaton (CAN), never a medallist at a grand prix, will be looking for her first podium. Behind this trio, the draw remains open and several athletes could emerge as surprise contenders.
-66 kg: Pashayev Among the Main Contenders
For Azerbaijan, Ruslan Pashayev will represent one of the strongest medal hopes. Ranked sixth in the world and a bronze medallist in Paris earlier this season, he has every reason to aim for gold, but he will face serious opposition.
Ronald Lima (BRA), who won in Austria last year, clearly performs well in Linz. Former grand slam winners such as Gusman Kyrgyzbayev (KAZ) and David Garcia Torne (ESP) could also impose themselves and reshape the expected hierarchy.
-57 kg: Perisic Opens Her Season as Top Seed
Marica Perisic (SRB), category winner in Zagreb last year, enters the tournament as the number one seed. Already a grand slam champion, she knows what it takes to reach the top of the podium. This will be her first individual competition of the season and could mark a strong launch to her campaign.
Mariana Esteves (GUI) will represent Africa with ambition. A bronze medallist at the grand prix in Linz in 2025, she will aim to climb even higher this time.
Meanwhile, Jessica Lima (BRA), a bronze medallist in Tashkent just a week ago, arrives in strong form and could challenge for the podium once again. Martha Fawaz (FRA) and Acelya Toprak (GBR) also enter the competition with legitimate ambitions.
With such depth across the field, the opening day in Linz promises a fascinating start to another chapter on the World Judo Tour.