Or Sasson makes comeback at Grand Prix Tashkent

Olympic bronze medallist Or Sasson is back on the tatami. The Israelian heavyweight will make his comeback at the Grand Prix in Tashkent. His last contest was at the Olympic Games at 12 August 2016. Iurii Krakovetskii (TJK) is the first seed in Tashkent.

Last year’s winner Mukhriddin Tilovov defends his title U60kg. Uzbek Olympic bronze medallist Diyorbek Urozboev won’t fight in Tashkent. U73g Mirzahid Farmonov will defend his title. Uzbekistan won 6 gold medals last year. U90kg winner Yakhyo Imamov will also start in Tashkent. Imamov is in the same pool with Belgrade Open winner Li Kochman (ISR). Komronshokh Ustopiriyon (TJK) will start in his class as first seeded judoka. Minsk winner Yahor Varapayeu (BLR) is on the other side of the bracket. The Belarussian will have a strong team with Dzmitry Minkou, Varapayeu, Mikita Sviryd and Uladzislau Tsiarpitski.

In the women’s division Ana Velensek will fight again +78kg. She won bronze in Cancun in June and the Slovenian Olympic medallist U78kg will continue in the heavyweight category. 34-Year old Gulzhan Issanova leads the bunch of 9 women. In total 183 athletes from 27 nations will start in Tashkent which is still 36% more than last year when the medals were for grab. The field is some categories quite severe with U48kg World Chs runner-up Munkhbat (MGL) in the starting grid as well as last week’s silver medallist in Zagreb Milica Nikolic (SRB). Charline van Snick (BEL) is the remarkable name U52kg. Besides strong Uzbek judoka, also strong women’s teams from Israel and Austria will be present with Sabrina Filzmoser U57kgm Kathrin Unterwurzacher U63kg and Bernadette Graf U78kg. Last year’s winner U70kg Gulnoza Matniyazova will face competition of Anka Pogacnik, Szabina Gercsak and Roxane Taeymans who are the main seeded athletes.

In terms of participants and countries this Grand Prix counts the lowest number of all Grand Prix events this year.