Men’s -60kg
In Pool A, the top seed is Balabay Aghayev (AZE) and he is the one who likely to top this pool although in his way could be Yang Yung Wei (TPE). Still, we think in the end, it will be Aghayev who prevails.
In Pool B, Ayub Bliev (RUS) meets Luka Mkheidze (FRA). This is a tough one and it could go either way although in the last two of their three match-ups, Bliev won.
Pool C also has an interesting match-up between rising star Izhak Ashpiz (ISR) and the unorthodox former World Champion Giorgi Sardalashvili (GEO). Also in that pool is the defending World Champion Ryuju Nagayama (JPN). When he fought Ashpiz in the Paris Grand Slam this year, it was a really close match. Ashpiz won that one but a rematch could have different results. Nagayama has never fought Sardalashvili so if he ends up fighting the Georgian, it would indeed be an interesting match-up. We think Nagayama would prevail though.
Pool D would probably be won by either Michel Augusto (BRA) or Romain Valadier Picard (FRA). We think Valadier Picard has a slight edge.
Prediction: We think Nagayama will defeat either Augusto or Valadier Picard and will meet either Aghayev or Mkheidze in the final. And we think he will emerge victor and winner of two World titles.
Women’s -48kg
In Pool A, the World No. 1 Hui Xinran (CHN) meets up against the defending World Champion Assunta Scutto (ITA). Here, we think it’s Hui who will prevail and end up topping her pool.
In Pool B, we think Shirine Boukli (FRA) will top that pool.
In Pool C, there are a few interesting names but the top prospect there is former World Champion and Olympic silver medalist Baasankhuu Bavuudorj (MGL).
In Pool D, we think it’s Wakana Koga (JPN) who will top that pool.
Prediction: We think Koga’s time has come and she will finally break through and get the big result that has eluded her so far (she has a World silver and two World golds). Now, it’s finally time for her to add a gold to that collection.
