New IJF World Ranking shows eleven Europeans on top

New changes in the IJF World Ranking after the Masters that delivered 700 points for the 14 winners. The points of the winners of 2013 were completely reduced but the new points count 100%. No panic for Sumiya Dorjsuren who won the event in 2013 and prolonged her title this year in Rabat. The same counts for Naohisa Takato of Japan and Kim Polling of the Netherlands who both came back strongly with a victory in Morocco. Yu Song even became the new World Ranking leader with her prolongation of the title in 2013.

Majlinda Kelmendi who didn’t participate this year wasn’t harmed as she leads firmly U52kg, despite the victory for Kuzyutina. Both simply stated to be undisputed participants for the Olympic Games in Rio. Some winners of the 2013 edition failed to reach the medal stages such as Sainjargal U73kg, World Champion Ilias Iliadis U90 and 2013 World Champion Elkhan Mammadov U100kg. Adam Okruashvili was easily replaced by Teddy Riner.

For some the impact on the World Ranking position was quite positive. YU Song of China replaced Idalys Ortiz (CUB).The last Chinese leader was QIN Qian in July 2012.

One category lower French Audrey Tcheumeo couldn’t win in Rabat but is the new leader U78kg. It’s the 8^th time that she came back to the #1 position. Kayla Harrison moved up to the second place, from 4. Last week’s leader Mayra Aguiar from Brazil is now 3. The World Champion didn’t have to participate as with Brazil she is secured of a spot in Rio anyway.

In the men’s category Ukrainian Georgii Zantaraia is the world leader U66kg for the first time. He was listed on top of U60kg until May 2010, since August 2009 when he won the world title U60kg in Rotterdam. Now he is on his way for a second world title if he can hold of triple World Champion Ebinuma. At least the World Ranking position is challenging enough to keep.

One category higher Azerbaijan cherishes the new top spot for Rustam Orujov who won the Grand Prix in Tbilisi and Samsun and the Grand Slam of Baku. With a bronze medal in Rabat Orujov is definitely the pinking for the first European Games title.

Surprising was the unexpected loss again by Tchrikishvili, but no worries, it’s just playing and still unharmed in the world ranking. The king will be back we assume but it was good to see that Japan have another challenger in Takanori Nagase, now ranked fourth and unbeaten since August 2014 when he lost the bronze bout at the World’s in Chelyabinsk against Pietri.

Varlam Liparteliani remains the World’s number one U90 despite his early loss, but winner and compatriot Beka Gviniashvili did good business moving up to place 4 from 9.

World Champion Krpalek sees Elmar Gasimov approaching at place 2, he is still World Ranking leader U100kg. Teddy Riner finally created some distance to the rest of the world. He has now beaten most of the judoka in the top 10. Only Dutch Roy Meyer, now 7 and Daniel Natea (10) haven’t fought against the multiple World Champion.