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Kazan Judo preview U90kg: Varlam Liparteliani can become the best ever in Europe

Kazan Judo preview U90kg: Varlam Liparteliani can become the best ever in Europe

23 Apr 2016 08:05
David Finch / Judophotos.com

The category U90kg is one of the best categories at the European Championships in Kazan. However some strong guys are missing who could spice up the category where Europe is expecting a few medals at the Olympic Games. Without Dutchman Van ‘t End, Celio Dias and without Russians Khusen Khalmurzaev and current European champion Kirill Denisov the tournament could have been even more competitive.

Still enough spice left with Varlam Liparteliani as number one seed who can win his eighth consecutive European medal starting his series in 2009 in Tbilisi. The Georgian judoka was defeated by Kirill Denisov last year in Baku but the Georgian still has enough competition with perhaps a good Cyril Grossklaus in his rather easy pool. But in the semi final Ilias Iliadis could be a well known rival, although he is still vulnerable. So far the score between Liparteliani and Iliadis is 2-2. Iliadis is in  pool with Axel Clerget, and Polish talent Piotr Kuczera but also with nemesis Marcus Nyman who beat the Greek legend twice now. Also Axel Clerget is an outstanding judoka but he never won a European medal.

On the other site of the table Toth Krisztian of Hungary could be a potential finalist, but there are some traps in his pool with Nikoloz Sherazadishvili as outsider. In Pool D Alexandre Iddir is a more likely French semi finalist. He will need to deal with Marc Odenthal or Li Kochman. Aleksandr Marmeljuk of Estonia is in a good shape but also Aleksandar Kulkolj can surprise.

Last year’s winner of the European Games in Baku were:

Kirill Denisov (RUS)

Varlam Liparteliani (GEO)

Guillaume Elmont (NED)

Ilias Iliadis (GRE)

This Olympic cycle European Champions

2015      Kirill Denisov (RUS)

2014      Varlam Liparteliani (GEO)

2013      Kirill Denisov (RUS)

2012      Varlam Liparteliani (GEO)

European athletes in the IJF World Ranking

2             Varlam Liparteliani (GEO)

3             Noël Van 't End (NED)

5             Krisztian Toth (HUN)

6             Kirill Denisov (RUS)

7             Beka Gviniashvili (GEO)

10          Alexandre Iddir (FRA)

Liparteliani can become the best ever judoka in the category U90kg at European Championships. Watch the stat.

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