European contenders ready to shake up Tashkent Day Two

Day two of the Tashkent Grand Slam is all about the middleweight fireworks. In the Uzbek capital, athletes from 40 countries and a field of 382 competitors continue their chase for World Judo Tour points. Saturday’s programme brings the men’s U73kg and U81kg categories together with the women’s U63kg and U70kg divisions onto one intense day of action.

In the men’s U73kg category, Olympic champion Hidayat Heydarov returns, looking to re‑establish his dominance after a tougher 2025. Home favourite Shakhram Ahadov, the 2025 Asian champion, will try to feed off the crowd’s energy to reach the final block. From Europe, Danil Lavrentev is one to keep an eye on after rebuilding his form with a strong run to the final at the Casablanca Open earlier this year. With so much depth in the draw, every mistake could cost a medal chance.

The women’s U63kg division may be the most stacked field of the day, and European judoka are right at the heart of it. Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard enters as the standard setter of the category, backed by a long list of Grand Slam victories and podiums. Iva Oberan, top seed in Paris but ending only fifth there, has something to prove and the skills to do it. Reigning world champion Joanne van Lieshout arrives with fresh momentum after bronze in Paris, while Manon Deketer and Angelika Szymanska add even more European firepower. Jessica Klimkait, a world champion and Olympic medallist at U57kg, brings huge experience and could easily shake up the medal picture.

U63kg women look set for a European power show in Tashkent.

The men’s U81kg line-up of 34 competitors promises another fierce battle. Top seed François Gauthier-Drapeau, already a double Grand Slam winner in 2025 with titles in Paris and Abu Dhabi, leads the way with explosive and versatile judo. Veteran Vedat Albayrak, a four-time Grand Slam champion, adds serious European experience to the mix, ready to punish any tactical mistake.

In the women’s U70kg category, several athletes are hunting for a breakout. Aoife Coughlan is still chasing her first Grand Slam gold after two previous finals and success at Grand Prix level. European star Miriam Butkereit, Olympic silver medallist from Paris 2024 and world bronze medallist in 2025, will be one of the toughest obstacles, supported by a strong Italian duo. Irene Pedrotti, narrowly off the podium in Paris, and Grand Slam champion Giorgia Stangherlin give Italy two real threats, ensuring the division stays unpredictable from the first round to the final.

Expect non-stop battles and big ranking moves across all four categories.

Source: JudoInside