Intense judo action unfolds on Day Four of the worlds

The fourth day of the Abu Dhabi World Championships 2024 promises high-octane judo action as competitors in the -70kg, -78kg, and -90kg categories vie for world titles and crucial Olympic ranking points. With the absence of some reigning champions and fierce rivalries taking center stage, the competition is set to be a spectacle of skill, strategy, and determination.

Women’s -70kg: A New Champion Emerges

The -70kg category is wide open this year, with reigning champions Saki Niizoe (JPN) and Barbara Matic (CRO) absent. This opens the door for a new champion to emerge, and the field is stacked with talent ready to seize the opportunity.

Lara Cvjetko, the 2022 world silver medallist, is under immense pressure to reach the final and keep her Olympic hopes alive. Trailing her Croatian teammate Barbara Matic by nearly 1500 points in the Olympic rankings, Cvjetko needs a stellar performance to close the gap.

Michaela Polleres of Austria enters as the number two seed, having recently secured grand slam victories in Antalya and Dushanbe. The Tokyo Olympic silver medallist aims to improve upon her world bronze medals from 2021 and 2023.

Top-seeded Elisavet Teltsidou from Greece has been in impressive form, winning six World Tour medals since early 2023, including three grand slam golds. Teltsidou is well-positioned to claim her first world medal.

Other notable contenders include 2019 world champion Marie Eve Gahie of France, who remains a formidable opponent, and young rising star Tais Pina of Portugal, fresh off a grand slam victory in Kazakhstan.

Men’s -90kg: A Battle of Champions

The -90kg category is set for an intense showdown with numerous world-class athletes, including several former world champions and Olympic medallists.

Hungarian legend Krisztian Toth, the number one seed, has been a consistent presence on the IJF World Judo Tour since 2011. Despite his numerous accolades, Toth is still chasing his first world title and faces a tough path in Abu Dhabi.

Among his challengers are 2019 world champion Noel Van ‘t End (NED), recent Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam winner Yahor Varapeyeu (AIN), and 2022 world silver medallist Christian Parlati (ITA). Each brings a unique style and formidable skills to the tatami.

Former world champions Davlat Bobonov (UZB), Nemanja Madjov (SRB), and Donghan Gwak (KOR) add depth to the competition. Bobonov and Madjov have shown solid form recently, while Gwak needs a strong performance to qualify for his third Olympics.

Other athletes to watch include Marcus Nyman (SWE), Ivan Felipe Silva Morales (CUB), Mihail Zgank (TUR), Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Eduard Trippel (GER), and 2024 European champion Eljan Hajiyev (AZE), who face off in an eagerly anticipated first-round match.

Women’s -78kg: German Dominance and Fierce Rivals

Germany's dominance in the -78kg category is highlighted by their three athletes within the top ten on the Olympic ranking list. Anna Maria Wagner and Alina Boehm, drawn to meet in the semi-finals, are in a direct competition for Olympic selection. Wagner holds a significant lead, making a world title crucial for Boehm’s Olympic aspirations.

Ukraine presents a similar scenario with Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko and Yuliia Kurchenko both in direct qualification spots. Kurchenko faces a tougher draw but has shown better form in 2024.

Italy’s Alice Bellandi, the number two seed, aims to make up for narrowly missing the final in Doha last year. France’s former world champions Madeleine Malonga and Audrey Tcheumeo also add to the excitement. Malonga has already secured her spot for Paris, while Tcheumeo looks to prove her doubters wrong after taking world silver last year.

As day four unfolds, the battles for world titles and Olympic qualification points are set to provide thrilling judo contests.