Strong international entry for judo Grand Prix

Some of the world’s best judokas will gather in Walsall, England, to compete at the visually impaired (VI) Grand Prix between 4 and 5 June.

Competitors from Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay and USA will take part in this event.

In the women’s -52kg event, Canada’s world No. 4 Priscilla Gagne will try to beat Germany’s reigning Paralympic champion Ramona Brussig.

Ramona’s twin sister Carmen, also a London 2012 gold medallist, will start as strong favourite in the -48kg.

South Korea’s Ha Na Seo is hoping to match her 2015 form, when she picked up gold at the World Games and the Eger World Cup.

Russia’s current European champions Vitalii Koriakin (-60kg) and Abdula Kuramagomedov (-100kg) will be ones to watch in the men’s events.

In the -90kg, USA’s reigning world champion Dartanyon Crockett seeks to take revenge of Great Britain’s London 2012 silver medallist Sam Ingram, who beat him in the quarter-finals at the Paralympics four years ago.

Brazil’s world No. 1 Willians Araujo (-100kg) will face tough opposition from home favourite Jack Hodgson, whilst France’s world No. 2 Cyril Jonard will be one to look out for in the -81kg.

For more information, visit British Judo.

Schedule

Saturday

Men: -60kg, -66kg, -73kg, -81kg

Women: -70kgs, +70kg

Sunday

Men: -90kg, -100kg, +100kg

Women: -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63kg