Almost equal amount of women and men at Tashkent Grand Slam

There will be action all weekend at the Tashkent Grand Slam 2024. The opening of this new month brings us a little closer to the two major events of the year, the Abu Dhabi World Judo Championships from 19th to 24th May and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, 27th July to 3rd August.

With 495 athletes participating, representing 68 delegations from five continents, starting with the five categories that will be in action during day one. The entries of this event are almost equal as 255 men and 240 women will participate, showing that judo is fully dedicated to inclusion.

-48kg: Scutto vs Babulfath

After her third place in Paris at the beginning of February, her three grand slam victories in 2023, her world bronze medal, as well as that of the World Judo Masters, Assunta Scutto (ITA) has fully deserved her world number one position. She therefore arrives in Tashkent with the aura of this status but also with the pressure which is inherent in such ranking. What is certain is that since the Doha World Championships 2023, Scutto has systematically and repeatedly reached the WJT podia and often heads right to the top step. If all goes well for her, she could find Katharina Menz (GER) in the quarter-final and one or the other Mongolian judoka in the semi-final.

In the second part of the draw, we will follow Tara Babulfath (SWE) closely, who surprised everyone in Baku two weeks ago by winning the gold medal. She is not yet among the seeds in Tashkent but that could change soon. For this she will undoubtedly have to face Milica Nikolic (SRB) again, as she did in the Baku final, or Marusa Stangar (SLO), Abiba Abuzhakynova (KAZ) or even Maria Celia Laborde (USA), only strong judoka standing between her and o potential final against Scutto. For the moment these later rounds are a work of fiction.

-60kg: Many Judoka Can Shine

We haven't seen Giorgi Sardalashvili (GEO) too much since his world bronze medal in 2023 in Doha. However he arrives in Tashkent from 6th in world ranking and as the top seed. This could help him greatly but in the first round he must face Kamoliddin Bakhtiyorov (UZB), who at home will undoubtedly want to shine. A second Georgian thought, Lukhumi Chkhvimiani, could steal the show from his compatriot in the same quarter of the draw. In Pool B, it is the path of Frenchman Romain Valadier-Picard that will interest us. After a disappointing 7th place in Paris in February, he wants to confirm that he can compete with the best, which he already demonstrated by winning a European bronze medal in November 2023 and by taking part in several World Judo Tour medal ceremonies. Further ahead in the draw, we will follow, especially the local public will follow Dilshodbek Baratov (UZB) while judo fans in Mongolia will be interested in Ariunbold Enkhtaivan (MGL).

-52kg: Amandine and the Others

Amandine Buchard's physical and mental condition has improved and we are delighted to see her back after her withdraw from the Paris Grand Slam. She will be the top seed with in her half Soumiya Iraoui (MAR) who progresses with each of her outings, and Kokoro Fujishiro (JPN). The latter is almost completely unknown on the world circuit but we know that this doesn't mean much for Japanese judoka.

Even if we begin with Amandine and the others, among these others there will be very good names in world judo. To name just a few: Chelsie Giles (GBR), who we know often poses problems for Buchard, Mascha Ballhaus (GER), Khorloodoi Bishrelt (UAE).

-66kg: Places and Points to Take

Can Willian Lima (BRA) still progress U66kg and get to the podium or even win the tournament? It's possible, given the progress of the Brazilian judoka, but the competition will be tough in a weight category where anything seems possible. In the absence of the big names of the moment in this category, there are places and points to be taken. This promises us tough, competitive contests, during which no one will give up. We like this uncertainty. There will be four Uzbeks, a discreet Japanese judoka named Ryoma Tanaka, winner of the World Judo Masters last year all the same, Georgians and many other judoka who could appear on the podium at the end of the day.

-57kg: Silva Wants to Lay Evidence

Rafaela Silva (BRA) remains a sure bet in the category. What is certain is that she still wants to fight. She doesn't give up and it's nice to see. In the race towards a new Olympic qualification, which should be no problem, and towards a new podium at the top of Olympus, she will be seeded number one in Tashkent. However, as we have said, Silva is no longer infallible and that whets appetites. Pauline Starke (GER), Haruka Funakubo (JPN), Timna Nelson Levy (ISR), to name just a few because we cannot name everyone, will want to show that today they are the masters of the category, even in the absence of Deguchi (CAN), Klimkait (CAN), Cysique (FRA), Huh (KOR) and Gjakova (KOS). All this promises us a great show in Tashkent.