–90 kg: Bekauri Leads a Packed Field of Contenders
The –90 kg category looks electric, with numerous athletes capable of reaching the podium by the end of the day. Top seed Rafael Macedo (BRA), winner of the Lima Grand Prix in October and holder of three grand slam bronze medals, will be hunting his first-ever final at this level. Jonghoon Kim (KOR), champion of both the 2025 Paris Grand Slam and the World University Games, is another serious contender. Yet the judoka everyone will be watching is double Olympic champion Lasha Bekauri (GEO), chasing yet another gold. A strong performance from Bekauri in Abu Dhabi would send a clear message to all future opponents.
In the lower half of the draw, another Brazilian, Marcelo Fronckowiak, could also make waves after his impressive silver medal in Guadalajara last month.
–78 kg: A World-Class Showdown Awaits
Once again, the –78 kg field is stacked with talent. The upper half of the draw is shaping up to be a German duel between 2025 world silver medallist and World University Games champion Anna Monta Olek, and Alina Boehm, an 11-time grand slam medallist still searching for her first gold at this level. To reach that final, Boehm may need to defeat 2023 world champion and 2024 Olympic silver medallist Inbar Lanir (ISR), a formidable obstacle.
The woman everyone wants to beat is reigning world and Olympic champion Alice Bellandi (ITA), whose dominance has left little room for others to shine. Still, several athletes could disrupt the established order, including Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko (UAE), Emma Reid (GBR) and Mizuki Sugimura (JPN), all capable of turning the draw upside down.
–100 kg: Kostoev Defends Home Soil in a Dangerous Line-Up
Dzhafar Kostoev (UAE) steps onto the tatami at home as the top seed, already the winner of two grand slams this year (Paris and Dushanbe). A third victory is possible but far from guaranteed as every contest in this category promises a fight to the limit.
A high-voltage clash looms in pool B, where former world champions Nikoloz Sherazadishvili (ESP) and Arman Adamian (RUS) could meet in a high-risk quarter-final. In the lower half of the draw, several strong contenders stand ready: Leonardo Goncalves (BRA), Zsombor Veg (HUN), Dzhakhongir Madzhidov (TJK) and Daniel Eich (SUI). Any of them could break through.
+78 kg: Fontaine Leads the French Charge
Once again, France appears to hold the strongest card in the +78 kg division thanks to Léa Fontaine, the winner in Paris and Ulaanbaatar and a finalist in Qingdao in 2025; her consistency has been exemplary this season. A potential semi-final clash with Milica Zabic (SRB) could prove decisive.
Marit Kamps (NED), often on the podium but still searching for the gold that has eluded her since her junior world title in 2021, will be eager to rise to the occasion. Despite consistent results internationally, she has not returned to the top step in years. In the lower half of the draw, Xinran Niu (CHN) will represent China as she seeks her second grand slam gold, following her breakthrough victory in Tashkent earlier this year.
+100 kg: Heavyweight Powerhouses Set to Deliver a Blockbuster Finale
The final category of the day brings together several heavyweight giants. At the top of the draw, Ushangi Kokauri (AZE) will be hungry for more gold after being triumphant in Guadalajara on 17th October.
Another grand slam winner this season, Denis Batchaev (RUS), will also be in pursuit of further success following his 2024 junior world title. His compatriot Tamerlan Bashaev, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist and perennial crowd favourite, thanks to his explosive shoulder techniques, is another name to watch closely. Add to that mix the 2022 world champion Andy Granda (CUB) and the stage is set for a spectacular finale to the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam.
With Olympic champions, world medallists and rising prospects ready to collide, day 3 of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam promises drama, surprise breakthroughs and performances that may shape the season ahead. From the explosive –90 kg battles to the heavyweight climax in +100 kg, the action is set to be thrilling from start to finish. Abu Dhabi is the destination for world-class judo once again and day 3 is primed to deliver an unforgettable final act.