Loic Pietri back in business at Grand Prix Almaty

At this week’s Grand Prix of Almaty some of the last points are for grab, but it won’t be easy for the 399 participants. The category U81kg is as usual the most competitive with 45 participants and includes the comeback of 2013 World Champion Loic Pietri. The Frenchman may face home boy Aziz Kalkamanuly or dare devil Frank de Wit in his first fight. Many competitors are in that same pool for those last points to secure qualification. Pietri won World silver in Astana last year, so he is still the favourite and nearly almost medals where he starts.

Also competitive in the category U60kg, traditionally strong in Kazachstan, but without World Champion Yeldos Smetov still attractive with vice World champion Rustam Ibrayev starting on top. Obviously with the two Uzbek rivals Oruzboev and Lutfillaev seeded as well. Stron opposition is expected from Mongolia, Azerbaijan. Brazilian Olympic medallist Felipe Kitadai is fighting to qualify for the Masters in Mexico, although he won’t need the points to qualify.

Rishod Sobirov is the top man U66kg and second ranked was Arsen Galstyan, wasn’t that the Olympic semi final U60kg four years ago? But on  Thursday Galstyan didn't attend the weighin. At the Masters in 2012 here in Almaty Galstyan defeated Sobirov for the first time, that was a sign. Four years later everything has changed, also their positions and Galstyan won’t be in this time, he wasn't even at the weighin.

Who will go for Georgia U73kg, that’s the question and perhaps we get an answer this weekend: Nugzari Tatalashvili or Lasha Shavdatuashvili, bets on. Last week’s winner Mirali Sharipov (UZB) is still sharp.

The top fighters U90kg won’t be fighting in Almaty, Ustopiryon (TJK) is the top seed, he won the tournament in 2014 in Astana. Same way U100kg where Jose Armenteros is first seeded. 2013 World champ Elkhan Mammadov gives it a try as well. Miklos Cirjenics stunted to silver last week and enjoyed the taste of metal. The man from Paks is accompanied by his teammate Laszlo Csoknyai U81kg who’s in a battle with Szabolcs Kriszan.

Faicel Jaballah is the top man +100kg, perhaps the small Levani Matiashvili can book a victory this time after showing good judo this season so far. In that case he must overcome Adam Okruashvili in a possible semi final.

Ofcourse Otgontsetseg Galbadrakh of Kazachstan is the sensation in the women’s category at the opening day. She won the Grand Prix in Kazachstan in 2014 on behalf of Mongolia. She may meet some top fighters such as Cherniak, Lokmanhekim or Jeong, but first she might need to the ambitious Laetitia Payet who was quite happy with her bronze performance and Olympic dream last week in Baku. Also Gili Cohen is in a good mood U52kg with Baku gold in the pocket she will be confident to meet with Mongolian top favs such as Bundmaa Munkhbaatar and Tsolmon Adiyasambuu.

Automne Pavia still isn’t the highest ranked judoka for France. The number one seed in Almaty could use another gold medal. On her way she could meet Ivelina Ilieva. Ilieva and Sanne Verhagen are in a battle for some of the Rio tickets. Timna Nelson Levy found the way to medals, and although unseeded she will give her utmost to beat Lu and Zabludina who also have a reputation.

No top favourites U63kg but still enjoyable to look to Tsend-Ayush, Hermansson, Espinosa or perhaps Pinot or Juul Franssen, the world’s number five, so not so bad looking in more detail.

A big Polish women’s team and their top flight is Katarzyna Klys U70kg. With Maria Perez in the field, you can’t predict the outcome. Gahie, Gercsak, Tsend Ayush, Rodriguez and Cortes are all able to medal. They’ve done it before.

Gemma Gibbons seems to take her chance for a second Olympics, starting as number one in Almaty, but it’s no guarantee with Purevjargal as first opponent. Pogorzelec has the quality to win here, same for Turks. Speaking about quality, Olympic champion Ortiz proved it in London. She is the spotlight herself in Astana facing double competition from Lithuania, Turkey, Kazachstan and Korea.

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