Shirine feeling the bathwater in Kazakhstan
The upcoming Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam 2024 is set to host 450 athletes from 84 countries in the at the Zhekpe-Zhek Palace, all vying for crucial Olympic ranking points. Who are the top contenders U48kg?
Leading the pack at -48kg is Shirine Boukli (FRA), currently ranked 6th in the world. Boukli aims to solidify her position as a seeded player for the upcoming Olympics, following her impressive gold medal win at the Paris Grand Slam earlier this year.
To clinch victory, Boukli may need to outshine competitors like Sabina Giliazova (AIN), the second seed and winner of the Tashkent Grand Slam 2024. Other challengers include surprise European champion Kristina Dudina (AIN), last year's bronze medalist Khalimajon Kurbonova (UZB), and home favorite Galiya Tynbaeva (KAZ), seeded fifth.
After securing silver in Dushanbe, Tugce Beder (TUR) strengthened her lead over compatriot Sila Ersin (TUR) in the Olympic rankings, entering this event as the fourth seed. Ersin faces an uphill battle from an unseeded position to surpass Beder. Meanwhile, Israeli and Brazilian athletes are also in a tight race for Olympic qualification in the category.
Result | City | Date |
---|---|---|
2 | Paris | 30 Jul |
1 | Abu Dhabi | 21 May |
1 | Zagreb | 26 Apr |
3 | Belgrade | 2023 |
2 | Montpellier | 2023 |