No fewer than 28 world top ten judoka will take to the tatami at the Zagreb Judo Grand Prix later today, each hunting for important ranking points.
Several world medallists from the Baku World Championships will be in play, Ushangi Kokauri among them. The Azerbaijani champion won silver in Abu Dhabi too, only two weeks ago, arriving in Zagreb as top seed at +100 kg. Compatriot Kanan Nasibov is likely to be his toughest opposition, himself a world bronze medallist on the same podium in Baku as Kokauri.
Another 2026 world silver medallist Kaila Issoufi if France will be seeking a step up to gold but Briton Emma Reid and Inbar Lanir of Israel have world championship medals of their own and may not allow the ranking to guide their performances.
Reid is seeded but Lanir could begin her day anywhere on the draw, a tough first contest for anyone present.
At -48 kg the clear favourite will be Italian Assunta Scutto, now a five-time world medallist, a world champion in 2025, and a formidable opponent. Fast and focused, the Italian will not yield easily. Eva Perez Soler of Spain, the second seed, Amber Gersjes of the Netherlands, third seed, and four-time world medallist Abiba Abuzhakynova of Kazakhstan may be her strongest opposition. All have the skills needed to top the podium but Scutto remains the benchmark.
A strong field is present on the middle day of the competition, particularly at -63 kg. 2024 world champion Joanne Van Lieshout of the Netherlands tops the seeding of the category but she will have challenges from 2021 world champion Jessica Klimkait.
The Canadian won that gold at -57 kg but as a four-time world medallist, in total, she can’t be discounted in her current weight group. Iva Oberan of Croatia fighting on home soil, as well as Slovenia’s Kaja Kajzer Zabkar and Hungary’s new start Anna Kriza will also be in the running.
