Kazan Judo preview +100kg: Who will be the second best behind Teddy Riner?

Who else than Teddy Riner should take the European title. Last year he didn’t compete and Adam Okruashvili could benefit, but not this time as Riner wants to get some extra rhythm and he can win his fifth European title. He hasn’t lost since 2010, who will be the best of the rest?

Teddy Riner might face Andre Breitbarth in the quarter final and in the semi final one of the Georgians Okruashvili or Levani Matiashvili. Barna Bor is always a danger, he was three times in the final but never won the title. His major opponent could be the tall Daniel Natea of Romania. Roy Meyer showed that he is in shape but destiny linked him to his current nemesis Or Sasson who defeated him twice. But Meyer wants to set the clock back and take revenge for his unlucky loss in the final of the Grand Prix of Tbilisi where Sasson seemed to commit a faul.

The one who will be missed is Ukraine’s super talent Yakic Khammo. Also tall Russian Renat Saidov is missing, in his place Andrey Volkov will be starting and his opponent is Oleksandr Gordiienko (UKR), another outsider.

Last year’s winner of the European Games in Baku were:

Adam Okruashvili (GEO)

Or Sasson (ISR)

Iakiv Khammo (UKR)

Renat Saidov (RUS)

This Olympic cycle European Champions

2015      Adam Okruashvili (GEO)

2014      Teddy Riner (FRA)

2013      Teddy Riner (FRA)

2012      Alexander Mikhailin (RUS)

European athletes in the IJF World Ranking

1             Teddy Riner (FRA)

4             Barna Bor (HUN)

5             Roy Meyer (NED)

6             Iakiv Khammo (UKR)

8             Renat Saidov (RUS)

10          Adam Okruashvili (GEO)

Teddy is still not the recordholder in Europe, although Russian Tamerlan Tmenov won titles in plus and open category.

Check the stat here