latest IJF World Ranking delivers three new leaders

Three new ranking leaders in judo with the release of the latest IJF World Ranking. Belgian winner in Portugal Matthias is back at the number one position after a short exchange with Tato Grigalashvili. Casse claimed the gold in Almada at the Grand Prix and made the difference with the Georgian in their weight class U81kg. Casse who reigned practically the whole year was the last week ranked number two which gave Grigalashvili the bonus of 10,000 USD.

Speaking about timing… Nora Gjakova of Kosovo had the same luck, after the new release World Champion Jessica Klimkait is back on her throne as world number one. Although sooner or later Gjakova as Olympic Champion is likely to take over the leading position U57kg. Canadian Klimkait gained a lot of valuable points at World Tour events in 2020.

Brazilian Beatriz Souza is the new number one heavyweight and follows up Romane Dicko of France. Dicko who won the Grand Slam in 2020 is risking to lose some of those points soon as well, but also Souza performed well in 2020 and can lose valuable points, unless she improves those results. Souza took 1000 points at the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi which helped her a lot. Dicko didn’t compete since her bronze at the Olympic Games. Olympic Champion Akira Sone is still ranked sixth and won’t participate in Paris which is the next Grand Slam with another 1000 points at stake for the winner.

It's for the first time since August 2019 that Brazil welcomes a World Ranking leader. Mayra Aguiar was the last.