Men’s -60kg
Luka Mkheidze (FRA) and Romain Valadier Picard (FRA) are both in Pool B. It should make for an explosive clash. One of them is likely to end up meeting Japan’s top favorite Ryuju Nagayama, who is in Pool C.
Men’s -66kg
Takeshi Takeoka (JPN) from Pool A is likely to meet Hifumi Abe (JPN) from Pool B. Most judo fans would have preferred to have them meet in the final.
Men’s -73kg
Everyone’s interested to see how Fabio Basile (ITA) from Pool A does in his comeback. Initially, it was thought that his teammate Manuel Lombardo would be competing too and clash between these two would have been super exciting. If he ends up meeting Lasha Shavdatuashvili (GEO) from Pool C, it will be a clash of veteran Olympic champions.
Men’s -81kg
All eyes will be on the very impressive Timur Arbuzov (RUS) who is in Pool A. He could end up meeting Matthias Casse (BEL) from Pool B. Whoever wins is likely to face Satoro Fujiwara (JPN) from Pool D.
Men’s -90kg
Lasha Bekauri was initially expected to compete but he won’t be. The likely finalists are Sanshiro Murao and Goki Tajima, which would be a good match that all judo fans can enjoy.
Men’s -100kg
The non-smiling World Champion Matvey Kanikovskiy (RUS) is likely to face Kotaro Ueoka (JPN), a seoi-nage specialist, who might prove to be a difficult opponent for him in his own pool.
Men’s +100kg
Judo fans would have loved to see Inal Tasoev (RUS) from Pool A go up against Guram Tushishvili (GEO) from Pool C but the Georgian has withdrawn from the competition. However, Kim Minjong (KOR) and Lukas Krpalek (CZE) from Pool D could be exciting opponents for Tasoev.
Women’s -48kg
The last time Shirine Boukli (FRA) fought Wakana Koga (JPN), it was at this year’s World Championships, and the Japanese won. They are in Pools A and C, respectively. It would be great if we could see a rematch in the final.
Women’s -52kg
Uta Abe (JPN) from Pool A is likely to meet her main domestic rival Kisumi Omori (JPN) in Pool B in the semifinal. Such a match should be the final.
Women’s -57kg
Reigning World Champion Eteri Liparteliani (GEO) from Pool A could meet Momo Tamaoki (JPN) from Pool C, for a rematch of their World Championships final.
Women’s -63kg
Another rematch of a recent World Championship final could be in the cards if Haruka Kaju (JPN) from Pool A meets Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard (CAN) from Pool C.
Women’s -70kg
There are lots of good fighters in this category including Aoife Coughlan (AUS), Madina Taimazova (RUS) and Shiho Tanaka (JPN) but the match-up that will be most explosive is the likely one between Ai Tsunoda Roustant (ESP) and Elisavet Teltsidou (GRE), two very powerful judokas, both of whom are in Pool B.
Women’s -78kg
A match-up between rivals Patricia Sampaio (POR) from Pool A and Inbar Lanir (ISR) from Pool D would be an exciting one for judo fans.
Women’s +78kg
Without doubt the first-round match-up between Romane Dicko (FRA) and Akira Sone (JPN) is the one to watch. This should have been the final.
