IJF World Tour returns with Tbilisi Grand Slam

The International Judo Federation (IJF) World Tour returns with the Tbilisi Grand Slam this weekend. Tbilisi is preparing to host its second Grand Slam after many years of organising the highly regarded Tbilisi Grand Prix.

With GB judoka recently competing at the European Championships in Sofia last month and the Olympic qualification window opening later this month, a small team of 3 will compete in the Georgian capital.

Friday

Two GB Judo fighters will be in action on the opening day of the competition.

In the -57kg category we see Acelya Toprak enter as 8^th seed. Having recently competed at the European Championships, Toprak had a career-best finish at a Grand Slam event in November when she finished 5^th in Abu Dhabi. Toprak will fight Thayane Lemos from Brazil in round two of pool C.

Gregg Varey will compete in the -66kg category at the Tbilisi Grand Slam. Varey recently made his European Championship debut in Sofia. This will be Varey’s third Grand Slam appearance of the season. Drawn in Pool A Varey will face Shahboz Saidaburorov from Tajikistan in his opening round contest.

 Sunday

The final day of the competition will see Welsh judoka Natalie Powell fighting in the -78kg category. Tbilisi is the second Grand Slam for Powell this year after taking bronze at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in November 2021. Seeded 5^th, Powell will fight Karen Stevenson from the Netherlands in the second round of pool B.

Elimination round action will start at 8:00 am (BST) on Friday 3^rd,  8:30 am (BTS) on Saturday 4^th and 9:00 am (BTS) on Sunday 5^th June 2022.

Final Block is scheduled to commence at 14:00 (BST) on each day.

You can watch all the action from the Tbilisi Grand Slam LIVE on the British Judo homepage each day.