GB Judo Preview: Bucharest European Open

A 22 – strong GB team will take to the mat this weekend for the Bucharest European Open, Romania on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 June.

The tournament will also see the return to competition for Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sally Conway (-70kg) and Rio Paralympian Jack Hodgson (+100kg).

This will be Conway’s first competition since Rio and she will be entered at that weight alongside fellow GB judoka Gemma Howell who has enjoyed a strong start to her career at -70kg with bronze medals at the Oberwart European Open and the Antalya Grand Prix.

Jack Hodgson required ankle surgery after the Paralympic Games and, alongside fellow VI judoka Chris Skelley (-100kg), he will be using the competition this weekend as part of his preparation for the 2017 IBSA European Judo Championships in Walsall this summer.

Junior World No.1 Lubjana Piovesana (-63kg) will also be in action as she continues to gain senior experience. In her last competition she won a bronze medal at the Antalya Grand Prix in April and she will be up against three of the world’s top 20 including Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA). Fellow Antalya bronze medallist Bekky Livesey will also be in action with Malin Wilson joining her at -57kg, a weight category where GB has serious strength in depth.

In the men’s side there is a good mix of light and heavyweight judoka entered with young -100kg duo Rhys Thompson and Valentino Volante worth keeping an eye on. The -73kg weight will also see Patrick Dawson, Jack Smith and Aiden Moffat in action on Saturday.

Competition starts at 0800 UK time (1000 local) on both days and live coverage via eju.net and draw on ippon.org. Follow @BritishJudo on Twitter for end of day medal updates.

Saturday

Women: -48 kg / -52 kg / -57 kg / -63 kg Men: -60 kg / -66 kg / -73 kg

Sunday

Women: -70 kg / -78 kg / +78 kg Men: -81 kg / -90 kg / -100 kg / +100 kg