Judo Masters in Guadalajara will give Olympic indication

The IJF Masters in Guadalajara should give us a glimpse of the medal distribution in Rio de Janeiro. The last serious indication for medals is given out in Mexico this weekend. Now in Guadalajara many top athletes will taste the opposition from the best judoka around the globe. The invitational event will host the top 16 judoka of the world, but not everyone is present. Some still need their rest, some simply prefer not to show themselves or just the training camps.

JudoInside goes back to 2012 where the Masters were held in Almaty where two weeks ago the last Grand Prix was held. At the Masters in 2012 19 athletes won a medal at both the Masters as the Olympic Games. Arsen Galstyan, Lucie Decosse and Kaori Matsumoto won the gold medal at both events. Riki Nakaya won silver at both events.  It’s realistic to say that three of the winners in Guadalajara will also win Olympic. Of those double medallists some are again in the race for a medal such as Uzbek Rishod Sobirov was the favourite for Olympic gold U60kg but lost for the first time in Almaty to Galstyan and took bronze in London. Now he is in the race U66kg and seeded 6^th in Guadalajara.

Brazilian Sarah Menezes, silver at the Masters, gold in London and ranked #3 U48kg in Guadalajara. Mayra Aguiar won gold in 2012 in Almaty, and bronze in London, also ranked #3 U78kg. Heavyweight Rafael Silva won gold in Almaty and took bronze in London, he is ranked #4. The Brazilians haven’t changed their team too much compared to 2012. The women’s team will be completely the same. The men’s team will likely have four same names only U66, U73 and U81 there’s another athlete. It’s the team with the most Olympic experience and home advantage in Rio.

The difference to the Olympics is that more than one athlete can compete from one country. Mongolia is represented by 18 athletes, Brazil and Russia both 16. More than 230 athletes from 54 countries are invited. Host nation Mexico has 13 athletes, France 11 and Japan will have 10 athletes, but none of the male World Champions, but including Hisayoshi Harasawa. The French is without Teddy Riner, so this match is postponed to the Olympic Games if both reach the final.