High-Stakes Showdowns Await on Day Five

As the 2024 World Judo Championships progress into day five, the stakes are higher than ever with several top battles poised to determine Olympic dreams and world supremacy.

100 kg: Canadian Clash for Olympic Glory

In the -100 kg category, the spotlight is on the Canadian duo, Shady Elnahas and Kyle Reyes. Elnahas, the number one seed, leads the Olympic rankings by over 800 points, thanks to his silver medals at the Antalya and Tbilisi Grand Slams and his fifth consecutive senior Panamerican title. His rival, fourth-seed Reyes, faces a crucial challenge; he must secure a podium finish to keep his Olympic hopes alive. The two Canadians are set to meet in the semi-finals, adding another layer of tension to their intense rivalry.

Three former world champions add to the excitement: Jorge Fonseca (POR), the only world champion from his country; last year’s champion Arman Adamian (AIN), seeking a return to form; and Nikolos Sherazadishvili (ESP), who has consistently reached finals in his new weight category.

The competition remains fierce with the presence of double world bronze medallists Michael Korrel (NED) and Zelym Kotsoiev (AZE), junior world champion Dota Arai (JPN), and rising star Daniel Eich (SUI). Additionally, athletes like Serbia’s Bojan Dosen and Germany’s Louis Mai and George Udsilauri are on the cusp of Olympic qualification and could cause significant upsets.

+78 kg: China's Internal Battle for Olympic Selection

In the +78 kg category, China's Xin Su and Shiyan Xu are in a tight race for Olympic selection. Su recently overtook Xu in the rankings after winning silver at the Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam. Both are seeded first and second, respectively, setting the stage for a potential final showdown that could determine their Olympic fates.

Su faces a challenging path with potential matches against Turkey’s Hilal Ozturk and France’s Lea Fontaine. Xu’s journey is equally tough, with possible encounters against double junior world champion Mao Arai (JPN), double world bronze medallist Kayra Ozdemir (TUR), and 4-time Olympic medallist Idalys Ortiz (CUB).

Japan’s Wakaba Tomita, a two-time world medallist, is unseeded in pool B, while third seed Beatriz Souza (BRA) aims to claim her first world title after several podium finishes. Unseeded contenders Kinga Wolszczak (POL) and Moira Morillo (DOM) are also motivated to secure their Olympic spots with strong performances.

+100 kg: Heavyweight Title Up for Grabs

The +100 kg category features a star-studded lineup with three former world champions: Guram Tushishvili (GEO, 2018), Lukas Krpalek (CZE, 2019), and Andy Granda (CUB, 2022). With Teddy Riner (FRA) and Inal Tasoev (AIN) absent, the door is open for these athletes to reclaim the top spot.

Top contenders also include former world medallists Tamerlan Bashaev (AIN), Tatsuru Saito (JPN), Alisher Yusupov (UZB), and Kim Minjong (KOR). Number one seed Temur Rakhimov (TJK) faces a tough potential match against Japan's Hyoga Ota, setting the stage for a highly competitive bracket.

The event will also finalize several internal Olympic selections. In the Netherlands, Jelle Snippe leads Jur Spijkers, while in Germany, Erik Abramov holds a slight edge over Losseni Kone. For Türkiye, 18-year-old Ibrahim Tataroglu is ahead of Munir Ertig, with both vying for the final direct qualification spot.

Day five of the Abu Dhabi World Championships promises intense competition and thrilling judo action as athletes vie for world titles and Olympic qualification.