Many of the heroes of the Games have gradually returned to competition at the very top level. Those who are not have either retired from sport or are still in the preparation phase. We will soon see them back in full swing. The youngest are sharpening their weapons to be on top at the Paris 2024 Games. We can already see names emerging that will not be far from the podium in the French capital. The last edition of the World Championships in Tashkent gave us a good glimpse of what awaits us.
In this very active context, the Olympic qualification began in June of this year in Ulaanbaatar and since then each competition of the World Judo Tour is an important stage for each athlete, a stage which at the end of the race will decide who will obtain their ticket to the Games.
As such, in two weeks, the World Judo Masters in Israel will be of particular interest. In accordance with the IJF Sport and Organisation Rules (SOR, version 9 March 2022), the IJF published the list of eligible athletes for the Jerusalem Masters 2022.
Please note that the following rules must be respected:
• The top thirty-six (36) athletes in the IJF Senior World Ranking List in each weight category will be invited. If, in a category, there are athletes marked as suspended or with the code IJF, they will NOT participate and the next athlete(s) in the list from position number 37 and below will be invited.
• If an athlete qualifies in more than one category, the national federation can decide in which category they will take part. If they do not decide, the IJF will take the decision based on the highest ranking position and that will be the category that is chosen. In the declined category the athlete(s) in the list from position number 37 and below will be invited.
• Athletes can only be entered in the weight category for which they have been selected.
• The organising country has the right to have a minimum of two (2) athletes in each category. If they do not qualify anyone in the top 36, up to two domestic athletes can be added in addition to those in the top 36.
How is the World Ranking List calculated?
• The five best results during each 12 month period will count, plus one extra (6th) result from the continental championships or Masters.
• In a case where the athlete starts in both events (continental championships and Masters) then the higher point score will count as the 6th result and the lower point score may count within the five best results on the WRL.
• In the first 12 months after the tournament 100% of the points will count.
• After 12 months the points will be reduced to 50%.
• After 24 months the points will be reduced to 0 and not be counted anymore.
• In case of equality of total points, the higher ranking will be decided by:
- The highest sum of the current points from all world championships.
- The highest sum of the current points from all grand prix, grand slams and Masters.
- The highest current points from one single event and then, if needed, the second highest and so on.
- If the competitors are still equal, the decision will be taken by the IJF EC, in the case of Olympic qualification.
FULL LIST OF ELIGIBLE ATHLETES FOR THE 2022 EDITION OF THE WORLD JUDO MASTERS
As the curtain fell on the recent Tokyo Grand Slam, the IJF published the list of eligible athletes, based on the world ranking. In the coming days each national federation will indicate their acceptance or withdrawal of the invitation to participate for their athletes so that the final list of participants can be known. Until then everyone continues to train. During the Masters, the gold medallists will obtain 1800 points, enough to ensure a calmer future and to already see the profile of the Eiffel Tower on the horizon. Before that, we will pass through Jerusalem from 20th to 22nd December.