Smythe-Davis returns as GB Judo stars are set for Oberwart European Open

17 GB judoka will be in action at the Oberwart European Open in Austria this weekend. Three Commonwealth Games Champions will be joined by a further three medallists from the Games, whilst there is also a welcome return to competition for Nekoda Smythe-Davis who competes for the first time since November 2019.

Saturday 3^rd

Two-time World Championship medallist Smythe-Davis (Coach: Jo Crowley; Club: Ealing JC) makes her return to competition in the -63kg category. A concussion injury followed by the birth of her daughter has resulted in her not competing for nearly 3 years.

Smythe-Davis will fight on the opening day alongside Commonwealth Games and European U23 Championship bronze medallist Amy Platten (Guy Platten; Redbridge JC) enters as 6^th seed in the -48kg category. Prior to her Commonwealth Games success Platten won bronze at the Cluj-Napoca European Open.

Sian Bobrowska (Fitzroy Davies; Hardy Spicer 83) also picked up a bronze medal at the Cluj-Napoca European Open and will compete in the -52kg category.

Scottish judoka Malin Wilson (Javi Delgado; Asociación Judo Móstoles) and Josie Steele (Euan Burton; Highland Budokan) compete in the -57kg category. Wilson won bronze at the Commonwealth Games following a bronze medal contest victory against England’s Lele Nairne. Steele returns to competition following 11 months out with injury. Steele enjoyed a medal-laden junior career but has suffered an injury-hit last 3 years.

Josh Giles (Simon Moss; Coventry JC) enters as the highest ranked GB judoka in the -60kg category. Giles has picked up two medals on the European Tour this year – the most recent being silver at the Cluj-Napoca European Open.

Giles will be joined by Scottish judoka Dylan Munro (Billy Cusack; Edinburgh JC) who competes for the first time since his 7^th place finish at the Commonwealth Games.

Following his 5^th place finish at the Commonwealth Games, Alexander Short (Cusack; Edinburgh JC) is joined in the -66kg category by Madrid European Open bronze medallist Michael Fryer (Laurie Rush; Rush Judo).

Birmingham Commonwealth Games champion Daniel Powell will be joined by Eric Ham (Geoff Ham; Glossop JC) in the -73kg category. Ham enters as 7^th seed following his bronze medal at the Cluj-Napoca European Open.

Sunday 4^th

Three Commonwealth Games medallists will be in action on day 2 as -81kg Champion Lachlan Moorhead (Matt Moorhead; Sheffield JC) and -90kg Champion Jamal Petgrave (Andy Ede; Westcroft JC) are joined by -100kg bronze medallist, Rhys Thompson (George Hyslop; Enfield JC). Moorhead heads to Oberwart as 3^rd seed.

In the +100kg, Andrew McWatt (Stuart McWatt; Garioch JC) competes for the first time following his 5^th place finish at the Commonwealth Games and will be joined by Sarajevo European Open bronze medallist Wesley Greenidge (Hyslop; Enfield JC). Scott Cusack (Cusack; Edinburgh JC) joins Moorhead in the -81kg category. Cusack recently claimed bronze at the Winterthur European Cup.

Preliminary Round action will start at 9:00am on both Saturday 3^rd and Sunday 4^th with Final Block to follow.

You can watch all the action from the Oberwart European Open and IBSA European Championships LIVE on the British Judo Competition Hub page each day.