The Olympic seedings at -90 kg tell us these should be the quarter-finals:
1 Bekauri (GEO)
8 Parlati (ITA)
4 Sherov (KGZ)
5 Toth (HUN)
2 Majdov (SRB)
7 Zgank (TUR)
3 Murao (JPN)
6 Bobonov (UZB)
The semi-finals should therefore be:
Bekauri vs Sherov
and
Majdov vs Murao
If the ranking is obeyed fully, the gold medallist should be Lasha Bekauri, beating current and 3-time world medallist, Nemanja Majdov. However, below Majdov, on the second half of the draw, is world champion Bobonov, in Murao’s quarter. There’s also Olympic silver medallist Eduard Trippel who was a surprise medallist in Tokyo and for Paris qualified at the last possible moment. He’s used to being the underdog and enjoys a challenge. Can he pass Bobonov and Murao to get to Majdov.
How about Zgank? He has medalled at every one of the 6 grand prix and grand slam events he’s entered in the last year, including winning at the Bercy. He missed out in Abu Dhabi but the Games is his focus. His last two meetings with Majdov didn’t go his way but they were some time ago and Zgank is on a high from recent wins.
Let’s, for the sake of debate, put Bekauri in the final. Who he might face there is anyone’s guess. Murao, Majdov, Zgank, they could all get there.
The women’s category on day five will also deliver some star-studded contests. Double world champion Barbara Matic (CRO) leads the charge but even her pool will be anything but easy. Polling (ITA), Pina (POR), Tsunoda Roustant and Pogacnik are all targeting the same semi-final allocation as her.
The Olympic seedings at -70 kg tell us these should be the quarter-finals:
1 Barbara Matic (CRO)
8 Ai Tsunoda Roustant (ESP)
4 Sanne Van Dijke (NED)
5 Saki Niizoe (JPN)
2 Elisavet Teltsidou (GRE)
7 Miriam Butkereit (GER)
3 Michaela Polleres (AUT)
6 Marie-Eve Gahie (FRA)
The semi-finals should therefore be:
Matic vs Van Dijke
and
Teltsidou vs Polleres
If the rankings were to be obeyed fully, the gold medallist would be Matic, beating Teltsidou to the top spot in the final. Let’s remember though that on the bottom half of the draw there is a formidable Frenchwoman who is about to compete on home turf. She’s been world champion and she missed out on selection for the Games last time round. She’s more than ready to upturn the seedings and deal with Teltsidou just as she has in their previous 4 meetings, including at the 2023 European Championships in Montpellier, also home soil for Gahie. Teltsidou is powerful and experienced but perhaps the one to watch is Gahie.
Only 24 hours to go and the answers will become clear.