Azerbaijan has more aces than Orkhan Safarov for gold U60kg

Last year’s European Championships in Montpellier delivered a gold medal for Russia U60kg. This year’s inaugural European Games will likely give the fans some great judo with three players from the World Ranking top 10.

Orkhan Safarov (1) is Azerbaijan’s home ace when it comes to a potential gold medal for the European Games in Baku. He is the number one seed and may get opposition from Amiran Papinashvili (2) of Georgia who was last year’s vice European Champion in Montpellier.

Beslan Mudranov (3) is the reigning champion of Montpellier and eager to show his best in Baku. The world’s number seven is far from his best shape, which is a deliberate choice to build up to Astana.

Another potential medallist from the home nation is Ilgar Mushkiyev (7). Number seven seeded and #15 of the world, and last’s bronze medallist in Montpellier.

The one in shape is Tobias Englmaier (6) of Germany who won silver in Tbilisi and Zagreb. He picked up some experience winning medals in Baku at the Grand Slam where he won bronze.

Outsiders are French Vincent Limare (5), Hovhannes Davtyam of Armenia (4) and good old Ludwig Paischer (8) of Austria.