Preview day 2 of the European Championships in Montpellier

Day two of the Senior European Championships in Montpellier is always exciting, certainly in France with a top audience, but they will witness some of the super talent in the category U63kg, normally the division for Clarisse Agbegnenou the five time European Champion, this time for the newcomers in Europe that developed so rapidly and some shone with a medal in Qatar’s World Championships this year in May. Can they resist the power of Agbegnenou for her French crowd?

Laura Fazliu (KOS), currently ranked #2 in the world and a 2022 silver medalist, as well as the reigning Masters champion, is a strong contender. Gili Sharir (ISR) and Ozbas Szofi (HUN), who claimed bronze in Sofia in 2022, are seeded at #2 and #3, respectively. Angelika Szymanska (POL) secured her first grand slam gold in Baku last month and is also among the top three seeds. Both Szofi Ozbas and Joanne van Lieshout took a surprising bronze medal at the World Championships making them a candidate for European gold in Montpellier. Agbegnenou is ranked #8 and might bump into Laura Fazliu, the number one seed.

The U73kg category features a star-studded lineup, led by Hidayet Heydarov (AZE), the defending European Champion and the world's #1 ranked judoka. His teammate Rustam Orujov, who shared the podium with him last year, has retired, but the category remains highly competitive. Lasha Shavdatuashvili (GEO) tops the other half of the draw and may potentially meet the current world title holder, Nils Stump (SUI), for a place in the final. Manuel Lombardo (ITA) completes the top four, eager to secure the gold, especially after Italy's Giovanni Esposito made it to the 2022 final against Heydarov and is competing again.

World Ranked #1 Hidayet Heydarov (AZE)

Heydarov became European Senior champion in 2017 and 2022 and silver in 2018. He won bronze at the World Championships in 2018, 2019 and 2022. He is the only male judoka ever to win all four different European titles. This year he triumphed at the Grand Slam Baku in 2023.

In the U70kg category, Marie Eve Gahie (FRA) aims to defend her title in front of the home crowd. She faces competition from her teammate Margaux Pinot, a 2022 bronze medalist who recently clinched gold at the Prague European Open. Sanne Van Dijke (NED) leads the category, followed by Michaela Polleres (AUT), Elisavet Teltsidou (GRE), and Barbara Matic (CRO). These top four judokas have had a successful year, even with Polleres recovering from injuries earlier in 2023.

Anka Pogacnik (SLO), who narrowly missed a medal in Abu Dhabi last week, will strive to secure another European medal, facing tough competition in the top eight, which also includes Lara Cvjetko (CRO) and Ai Tsunoda Roustant (ESP). Madina Taimazova (AIN) and Kim Polling (NED) could potentially shake things up.

In the men’s division U81kg , one of the most thrilling rivalries in judo between Matthias Casse (BEL) and Tato Grigalashvili (GEO) will take the spotlight. Grigalashvili, the defending European Champion, has consistently performed well but faced a setback in the Masters where Casse emerged as the victor. The top four seeds also include Attila Ungvari (HUN) and Sagi Muki (ISR). Muki holds two European titles and aims for a hat-trick. The remaining seeded positions are occupied by Vedat Albayrak (TUR), Alpha Oumar Djalo (FRA), Shamil Borchashvili (AUT), and Frank de Wit (NED), who is determined to secure a European medal after settling for 5th place on three occasions. With his silver medal last week in Abu Dhabi we can say he is back in the European top.

World Ranked #1 Matthias Casse (BEL)

Casse became World Champion in 2021 in Budapest. He finished with bronze at the 2020 Olympic Games. He already was runner-up at the Worlds in 2019, 2022 and 2023. Casse captured European Games gold in Minsk and bronze in Prague in 2020 and silver in 2021 and 2022. Matthias Casse was World number one U81kg in 2020, 2021 and 2022. This year he won the Grand Slams in Antalya and IJF Masters in Budapest.