Who can beat Uta Abe in Paris?

Uta Abe is an Olympic Champion and a four-time World Champion. Throughout her international career, she has been beaten only three times. The first time was against teammate Natsumi Tsunoda in the final of the 2016 Tokyo Grand Slam, when Abe was only 16 years old.

The second time was at the 2019 Osaka Grand Slam where she lost to her biggest rival Amandine Buchard of France.

The third time was at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when she lost in the team event, where she fought at -57kg (she normally fights at -52kg) against Germany’s Theresa Stoll.

Can anyone stop her from getting gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics? On paper, the best bet would naturally be Buchard, 28. Not only does she have home-ground advantage but she was the only player at -52kg who has beaten Buchard in recent years.

However, it should be pointed out that although Buchard is one of the strongest players at -52kg (she is currently ranked No. 3 in the IJF World Rankings), since 2019 she has fought Abe four times and lost all four times.

Other players who could give Abe a hard time include Distria Krasniqi (KOS), Chelsie Giles (GBR) and Diyora Keldiyorova (UZB).

Krasniqi, 28, is an Olympic Champion as well, but at -48kg. She has since moved back up to her preferred -52kg. She has fought Abe three times and lost to her all three times, the most recent of which was in 2023 at the Doha World Championships.

Giles, 27, is another top prospect. She has fought and lost to Abe four times, so the odds are against her. But being a lanky opponent who is much taller than Abe and possessing good newaza skills, she could cause an upset.  

Keldiyorova is a rising star in world judo and she could be the one that gives Abe the hardest time. She has fought Abe only twice. Once was way back in 2019 but most recently it was at the 2023 World’s in Doha, where they met in the final.

Of the four, Keldiyorova probably has the best chance of upsetting Abe. She is the one Abe has the least experience with and at only 25 years of age, she is still peaking. For sure, Keldiyorova and her coach have been studying Abe’s game, and she will be ready for Abe in Paris.