-73kg: Heydarov Is the Favourite
The world number one, Hidayat Heydarov, and therefore number one seed, will be the subject of all attention during the 2nd day of the Baku Grand Slam. There is no doubt that he will have an entire country behind him. Winner of the 2023 European Championships, then gold medallist at the Tokyo Grand Slam in December 2023, he is one of the strong men in the category, a strong man who will be in the hunt for the gold medal in Paris this summer, but the result of a World Judo Tour tournament is never written in advance, anything can happen and certainly Tohar Butbul (ISR), Obidkhon Nomanov (UZB) and Arthur Margelidon (CAN) will also want their share of the cake and if possible the biggest slice.
-63kg: Beauchemin-Pinard Wants Confirmation
She is still world number one even if her last outings have been lacklustre. Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard (CAN) was unplaced in Paris this season, 7th in Tokyo at the end of 2023, but she also won the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in October last year. Everything is possible in a category where young judoka like Szofi Ozbas (HUN) or Laura Fazliu (KOS) are pushing harder and harder. In Paris though, we marvelled at the 7th victory of Clarisse Agbegenou (FRA). In the absence of the latter in Baku, the games are open. There are places and points to be taken.
-81kg: Gauthier Drapeau, Ungvari, Tckaev, Mollaei and Co.
This is a category that we will observe carefully. Everything can happen. A victory for the number 1 seed, Francois Gauthier Drapeau (CAN), a return to his best level from Attila Ungvari (HUN), a performance from Zelim Tckaev (AZE), but above all a confirmation from Saeid Mollaei (AZE)?
The last of these athletes had shown very good things in Portugal where he ranked third. Paris was less cheerful, Mollaei locking himself into a tactical pattern which did not favour him. At home, in Baku, he can turn things around and show that he will have to be counted on this summer for a second Olympic medal. The category is dense, as usual. No-one can predict who will be on the podium at the end of the day and that is very exciting.
-70kg: Gahie for the Title This Time?
Elisavet Teltsidou (GRE) is a powerhouse, powerful and efficient, and she can once again overturn the table and win the title but she will have to consider Marie-Eve Gahie, who arrives from winning a very nice silver medal in Paris two weeks ago. The French judoka has regained her splendor, the same that allowed her to become world champion in 2019 in Tokyo. There is still some room for improvement and she is therefore present in Baku to douse any remaining doubts. In this very tough category, we must not forget the double world champion, Barbara Matic (CRO), or Michaela Polleres (AUT). There's going to be fire!
