IJF World Tour heads to Zagreb

The IJF World Tour returns this week as Croatia plays host to the Zagreb Grand Prix.

The Paris Olympic Games are now less than one year away, each competition is vital with valuable Olympic qualification points on offer.

The first World Tour event following the recent World Judo Masters, the Zagreb Grand Prix will welcome over 550 competitors from 85 countries.

14 GB judoka will be in action over the three-day competition, starting on Friday.

Friday 18^th – Preliminary Rounds 07:30am (GMT) | Final Block 16:00

Competing in the -57kg category, Lele Nairne (Bradley Stoke; Pete Douglas) enters as the 6^th seed. Nairne recently finished 5^th at the Dushanbe Grand Prix and last competed at the World Judo Masters earlier this month.

Nairne has an opening-round bye before facing the victor of the round-one contest between Mariana Esteves (GUI) and Lou Lemire (FRA).

In the -66kg category, Michael Fryer (Rush Judo; Laurie Rush) and Charlie Young (Ryecroft Judokwai; Paul Young) both compete for the first time since the Dushanbe Grand Prix.

Young, who finished 7^th in Dushanbe, will face Lennart Slamberger (GER) in the opening round whilst Fryer has been drawn against 2022 European Championship silver medallist Yanislav Gerchev (BUL).

Tatum Keen (Bradley Stoke; Pete Douglas) makes her World Tour debut following a bronze medal at the Riga European Cup earlier this year.

Keen has an opening-round bye before facing Gabriela Dimitrova (BUL).

Amy Platten (Redbridge JC; Guy Platten) will be in action in the -48kg when she faces Katharina Tanzer (AUT) in the opening round.

Saturday 19^th – Preliminary Rounds 08:00am (GMT) | Final Block 16:00

World number one Lucy Renshall (SKK; Pete Blood) has enjoyed great success on the World Your over the years, amassing 6 gold medals on the Grand Slam circuit, but is yet to win a Grand Slam gold.

Renshall has an opening round bye before facing Ichinkhorloo Munkhtsedev (MGL) in round two.

Jemima Yeats-Brown (Ryecroft Judokwai; Ian Oliver) recorded back-to-back 5^th place finishes at the World Championships and Dushanbe Grand Prix. The -70kg fighter enters as 3^rd seed and will face Kaila Issoufi (FRA) in round two, following an opening round bye.

In the -81kg category, Lachlan Moorhead (Sheffield JC; Matt Moorhead) enters as 6^th seed. Moorhead has an opening-round bye before facing either Nikola Gardasevic (MNE) or Adam Kopecky (CZE).

Daniel Powell returns to the World Tour stage, following injury, in the -73kg category. He will be joined by Eric Ham (Glossop JC; Geoff Ham).

Powell has an opening-round contest against Alexandru Raicu (ROU) whilst Ham has an opening-round bye, before facing the victor of the round-one contest between John Waizenegger (SUI) and Kjartan Hreidarsson (ISL).

Sunday 20^th – Preliminary Rounds 08:30am (GMT) | Final Block 16:00

In the -78kg category, Emma Reid (Redbridge JC; Steve Sandy) heads to Zagreb seeded 3^rd seed. Reid, who recently finished 5^th at the Dushanbe Grand Prix, will face either Jovana Pekovic (MNE) or Zanet Michaelidou (CYP) in round two, following an opening-round bye.

Jamal Petgrave (Westcroft Judo Club; Andy Ede) and Stuart McWatt (Gairoch JC; Stuart McWatt) will both compete in the -90kg category. Petgrave enters as 8^th seed, whilst McWatt continues his return from injury.

Petgrave has an opening round bye before facing either Leonidas Hytonen (SWE) or Artur Kanevets (FIN) whilst McWatt has been drawn against Teo L Herbier (FRA) in round one.

In the -100kg category, Austria Grand Prix 5^th place finisher, Rhys Thompson (Enfield JC; George Hyslop) will face former World Championship silver medallist Aleksandar Kukolj (SRB) in round two following an opening round bye.

There will also be representation on the tatami by Lisa Rivers (Kin Ryu JC) who has been selected to referee at the event.

You can watch all the action from the Zagreb Grand Prix LIVE at live.ijf.org each day.

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