European Champion Lukas Krpalek back in action in Cancun

The Poliforum Benito Juarez in Cancun will be full of athletes starting from Friday. In Mexico the second edition of the Grand Prix will be held. Olympic Champion U100kg Lukas Krpalek moved to the +100kg weight class after the Rio Games. This year he became European Champion in Tel Aviv but at the World Championships he missed out on a medal.

Now Lukas Krpalek is back in action after Worlds for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifier in Mexico.

Czech judo start Krpalek finished fifth at the World Championships last month. Krpalek was World Champion of 2014 and double European Champion in 2013 and 2014 U100kg and won the title now in the heavyweight category. He was double Junior World Champion andseventh at the Olympic Games in London. He was always coached by Petr Lacina. Last year won gold at the Grand Prix in Antalya and Hohhot.

The former world champion, who is ranked number two in the world in the heavyweight category, won the European title in April and starts as the favourite for +100kg gold on Sunday. One of opponents will be former Junior World Championships gold medallist Tamerlan Bashaev (RUS) took silver at the European Championships in April behind Krpalek. Former World Championships silver medallist David Moura (BRA) is without an IJF World Judo Tour podium in 2018 after shot-shy displays at the Ekaterinburg Grand Slam, Hohhot Grand Prix and World Championships. Man-mountain Moura will be tipped to return to form on Sunday.

Watch the Programme for this weekend.

12-14 October

Preliminary rounds - 09:30

Final Block - 17:00