World champions to arrive in Odivelas

The first IJF World Judo Tour event of 2024 will be held in Portugal in a week time. It’s a grand prix but has an entry volume any grand slam would be proud of. In the Olympic year 2024 and the closer the Games get, the greater the rush and the higher the tension in the months immediately preceding the Olympic opening ceremony.

Odivelas will host many from the world’s top 20 in each weight category, some of whom are pretty safe in terms of their ticket to the Games but no-one has completed their pre-Games preparation, no-one has done all the analysis that needs to be done and no-one has safe seeding. Therefore, the jostling continues. There will be many interesting circumstances to see in the Portuguese capital but some are more tangible than others.

The world champions aren’t holding back for the Grand Prix in Portugal. We know that anything can happen in any judo contest but there is always an expectation of excellence when a world champion steps up to fight, no matter who they are facing. They draw the best out of those around them, raising the level for everyone.

Inal Tasoev (AIN), Andy Granda (CUB), Davlat Bobonov (UZB), Barbara Matic (CRO), Sagi Muki (ISR) and Arman Adamian (AIN) are all in, making the opposition stand up tall to meet them or perhaps shrink under the pressure. No matter the outcome, the champions won’t be there on holiday; there are points to be won, seedings to ratify and backpatches to honour.