Andreea Chitu dethrones Majlinda Kelmendi in World Ranking

For the first time since March 2013 Majlinda Kelmendi was dethroned of the World Ranking position U52kg. Andreea Chitu took the World leading position for the first time in her career. The European Games Champion won the Grand Slam of Zagreb this year, the European Open in Cluj and the European Championships in Baku. Chitu is in the World Ranking top 10 since February 2013.

Kelmendi hasn’t been in action this year and is saving her energy for the World Championships this year in Astana to get her third back-to-back World title. She’s been injured and took the time to recover.

Just to mention that Chitu has never defeated Kelmendi in 5 confrontations.

Another newcomer at the World leading position is Orkhan Safarov of Azerbaijan. He finally took over the position of Ganbat (MGL) after the deduction of the points of the Grand Slam of Tyumen last year and in particular for Ganbat the full deduction of the points of the 2013 GP in Mongolia. Safarov won silver medals at the GP Samsun, IJF masters and European Games, but can finally see a golden reward with this leading position. Safarov leads U60 while Rustam Orujov had recently taken the lead U73kg.

On the other hand Elmar Gasimov (AZE) lost his #1 position to Lukas Krpalek. Gasimov won the Grand Slam in Tyumen in 2014 which value was reduced by 50%. Still Azerbaijan is now the only country with two World Ranking leaders.

Portuguese Telma Monteiro took over the world leadership from Sumiya Dorjsuren (MGL) U57kg. The European Champion benefit of the deduction of the GP Mongolia that Dorjsuren won in 2013 and regained her position.

Europe now has 11 leaders, Asian with Yu (CHN) and Munkhbat (MGL) two and Kayla Harrison (USA) is leading the dance U78kg for Pan America.