Preview women U52kg World Championships Budapest

Former World Champion U52kg Ai Shishime of Japan has good memories of Budapest where she took her world title in 2017. Now she is heading for her second attempt after she’d won all colours in a row. Without reigning World Champion Uta Abe, she seems to have the skills to resist the field. The top favourites are pretty much Asian without some of the top Europeans Buchard and Olympic finallists Giuffrida and Kelmendi.

Alongside Shishime Korean Bo-Kyeong Jeong can be expected to take a medal as well as Sosorbaram Lkhagvasuren (MGL). Her country woman Khorloodoi Bishrelt (MGL) could also make it to the last 8. West Asians Gulbadam Babamuratova (TKM) and Diyora Keldiyorova (UZB) are ready to rock the top favs. Among those Brazil’s Larissa Pimenta. Although the majority will come from Europe. Charline Van Snick has more or less recovered from her injury and with Amber Ryheul both will represent Belgium. Spain also has to strong athletes in Ana Perez Box and Estrella Lopez Sheriff. One of our favourites for a medal is British Chelsie Giles, almost Britain’s medal hope as either top women are retired or pregnant. Giles may do it in Budapest.

France will send Astride Gneto instead of Buchard but she is on form. Georgians Tetiana Levytska-Shukvani (GEO) and Mariam Janashvili (GEO) may surprise but more is expected from “home” fighter Reka Pupp (HUN) from Paks. She is in a pool of death with Shishime, Kuznetsova, Perenc and Chitu and only one can survive. Even Tschopp and Ramos are in there for the quarter final positions.

Definitely stable in this category and she is mature enough to make it to the top eight or perhaps more. Gili Cohen (ISR) and Gefen Primo (ISR) are battling for Tokyo. Cohen seems to have a good draw in Budapest, Primo is in a pool with Brazil's Pimenta. The qualification swar also counts for Swiss duo Evelyne Tschopp and Fabienne Kocher where Tschopp seems to have the best papers and Kocher is in one pool with Chelsie Giles. Tschopp may survive pool A together with Shishime.

Two Russian women will show their best here: Alesya Kuznetsova and Anastasia Polikarpova as Kuziutina will be fighting in Tokyo, we estimate both have no chance for a medal. The category is a mix of talents such as Naomi Van Krevel (NED) with older experienced athletes such as Joana Ramos (39-POR) and Andreea Chitu (32-ROU). Both are still on the verge of qualifying for the Games, some extra points will give them a ticket, but we doubt if they get those points in this field, only a miracle will help them.