Daily preview Day 4: Khasan Khalmurzaev and Agbegnenou vs the expectations

The fourth day of the World Judo Championships will bring more action in perhaps the two most competitive weight categories for men U81kg and women U63kg. 65 men and 44 women on the tatami in Baku and especially in the men’s U81kg there are a lot of guys who want to take over the world title of Alexander Wieczerzak.

The German world champion of Budapest showed that anything can happen if you have the form and you can absorb the support of the homecrowd or spirit in the team.

World number one Saeid Mollaei can not complain about the team spirit with Saturday’s bronze medal. In fact there’s more pressure on the Russian side with Khasan Khalmurzaev, he is the big favourite, but with many talented youngsters such as Matthias Casse, Aslan Lappinagov and Frank de Wit, nothing is sure. It’s hard to predict this category but we have our eyes on Mollaei, Otgonbaatar, De wit or Fujiwara and Khalmurzaev to survive the first shift in the morning.

The women’s division Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA) who will probably top her pool. Martyna Trajdos (GER) will have to deal with Krssakova and Schlesinger in the group with Trajdos. Andreja Leski is certainly an outsider. She is in a pool with Quadros and Del Toro Carvajal.

Meanwhile Tina Trstenjak (SLO) will probably top Pool C, but she is not in the best shape of her career and will have to grow into the tournament. Miku Tashiro (JPN) has a good outlook to proceed. On the other side Juul Franssen can reach the semis too.

We foresee the French anthem on the podium and perhaps a first Russian World title for Khalmurzaev. We’re on the edge of our seat seeing today’s lineup.