-63kg: Piovesana and Krssakova fly the flag for the hosts
Arguably the strongest field across all of the women’s categories can be found at -63kg, with no fewer than 15 World Judo Tour medallists on the entry list. The host nation accounts for two of these athletes, Lubjana Piovesana (seeded 5th) and Magdalena Krssakova (unseeded), the latter of whom finished in 5th place here last year. Both will carry their home advantage with them and both represent excellent medal prospects for the host team, though Piovesana is currently well ahead in the Olympic rankings. She defeated the number 2 seed and world bronze medallist Joanne Van Lieshout (NED) on her way to gold at the Baku Grand Slam just three weeks ago, so her confidence levels will be high. Buoyed by the home crowd, Krssakova will be looking to regain the form that won her 3 grand prix titles, to close the gap on her counterpart.
The highly decorated Katharina Haecker (AUS) and Ketelyn Quadros (BRA) are seeded 1st and 4th respectively and represent the biggest threats to Austrian medal chances. Outside the top seeds, numerous athletes have the potential to cause an upset, including Tokyo Grand Slam 2023 bronze medallist Mizuki Takaki (JPN), Dushanbe Grand Prix silver medallist Sarai Padilla Guerrero (ESP) and Dena Pohl (GER) who narrowly missed out on a first grand slam medal in Tashkent last week.
-73kg: Can Cargnin Take his First Grand Prix crown?
Six of the athletes in the -73kg category who achieved a top eight placing at last year’s event return to Linz aiming to repeat or better their performance. The gold medallist then was Tohar Butbul (ISR) who comes into the event this year seeded 4th. The man he beat in last year’s final, Rashid Mammadaliyev (AZE), finds himself unseeded once again and facing the prospect of a round 3 match-up with the number 2 seed Akil Gjakova (KOS), who defeated the Azeri only a few weeks ago at the Paris Grand Slam. Gjakova has recently rediscovered his form after going just over four years without a World Tour medal, a desolate streak ended with a silver medal in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in October last year.
8th seed Adil Osmanov (MDA) took bronze in Linz last year along with compatriot Petru Pelivan, whom he trails significantly in the Olympic rankings. With Pelivan absent this time, Osmanov will need to make the most of his opportunity if he is to remain in the running. The unseeded Heoncheol Kang (KOR), Hassan Doukkali (MAR) and Martin Hojak (SLO) all sit just outside the qualification places but remain the highest-ranked athletes from their respective nations and so will see this event as a major chance to bring qualification within their reach.
Nevertheless, the favourite for the gold medal will undoubtedly be the top seed, Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medallist at -66kg, Daniel Cargnin (BRA). It did not take long for the Brazilian to settle into his new category as he took a world bronze medal and the Masters title in his first full year at the higher weight and he will be looking to build momentum leading up to the Paris Games. Surprisingly, he is yet to win a grand prix gold medal, with one silver and two bronzes to his name so far in his career.
-70kg: Polleres Takes Pole Position
All eyes will be on local hero Michaela Polleres at -70kg. The Tokyo Olympic silver medallist is already one of Austria’s most successful judoka of all time at only 26 years old and with qualification for the Paris Games almost a certainty, she will be hoping to put on a show for an adoring home crowd from her position as the top seed. The number two seed is Aoife Coughlan (AUS), who holds a 3-1 winning record against Polleres; should they both make it through to meet in the final, it will certainly be an intriguing match-up.
There will, however, be plenty of challengers for the top spot. Last year’s gold medallist Maria Perez (PUR) returns as the number four seed. The towering Anka Pogacnik (SLO), a two-time grand prix winner, comes in seeded 3rd, while 5th seed Sabina Gercsak (HUN) will be looking to add to her impressive collection of seven grand prix medals. Japan’s Erina Ike returns to the IJF World Tour for the first time in 8 years. She won 2 grand prix gold medals way back in 2016. 2021 world medallist Sanne Vermeer (NED) made the move up from -63kg six months ago and has been steadily growing into her new weight category, taking a gold medal in the Gyor European Open a few weeks ago.
-81kg: From One Borchashvili to Another
With the last-minute withdrawal of Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Shamil Borchashvili on Wednesday due to a lack of recovery time after Tashkent, the responsibility of defending the title for the host country falls to brother Wachid, who is seeded 2nd behind world number four Guilherme Schimidt (BRA). Topping the podium in the -81kg category at any World Tour event is no mean feat and for the younger Borchashvili to do so in Linz would be no different. He faces a potential quarter-final match-up with either 7th seed Achraf Moutii (MAR), multiple World Tour medallist Dominic Ressel (GER) or rising star Mikhailo Svidrak (UKR) who took silver behind Shamil last year.
On the other side of the draw there is 2019 world champion Sagi Muki (ISR), 2022 junior world champion Mihail Latisev (MDA), seeded 4th and 8th respectively, along with current junior world champion Kaito Amano (JPN) and 3-time grand slam medallist Timo Cavelius (GER), both unseeded, to name just a few. A special mention has to go to 34-year-old Odbayar Ganbaatar (MGL), not seen on the IJF World Tour for nearly two years. The 2017 world bronze medallist at -73kg has made the jump to the higher weight category, in what could be a last-minute attempt to secure a place at one more Olympic Games; his country’s spot at -73kg currently belongs to Tsogtbaatar Tsend-Ochir. Who will come out on top in the 56-strong field at -81kg?
The action continues at the Tips Arena in Linz from 10:30 local time on Saturday 9th March 2024. Follow all the action, predict the winners and watch the highlights from the competition so far, all at JudoTV.com.