Preview European Open Gyor

Over the weekend, the Audi Arena in Gyor will witness nearly 400 judoka from 35 nations vying for victory at the European Judo Open. This prestigious event, spanning two days, offers a diverse platform for judo athletes of all generations to showcase their talent across various weight categories.

Gyor, known for its rich judo heritage, is hosting a series of international judo competitions, underscoring its pivotal role in Hungarian judo. Dr. Tóth László, a former competitor of Győr Dózsa SE and a prominent figure in Hungarian Judo Association, has been instrumental in shaping the judo landscape, both nationally and internationally.

The home crowd will eagerly support Hungarian judoka like Feczko Csanad, who will face tough competition in the -60kg category, including former junior world medallist Sherzod Davlatov (KAZ) and Theo Raoul Hebrard (FRA), the bronze medallist from the 2023 Zagreb Grand Prix.

In the -66kg category, contenders from Turkmenistan will challenge British judoka like Hekim Agamammedov (TKM), a bronze medallist at the 2023 Tokyo Grand Slam.

Hungary's Daniel Szegedi, known for his powerful techniques, is expected to make waves in the -73kg category, buoyed by the enthusiastic home support. Meanwhile, British judoka Lachlan Moorhead aims to bolster the medal tally in the -81kg category.

The -90kg category promises an intriguing competition, led by Jesper Smink (NED), the winner of the 2022 Portugal Grand Prix, and Hungarian judoka Goz Roland, the bronze medallist at the 2023 Portugal Grand Prix.

In the -100kg category, Laurin Bohler (AUT) and Simeon Catharina (NED) are poised to deliver strong performances, while French judoka Kenny Liveze brings youthful vigor to the competition, complemented by the experience of teammate Cedric Olivar.

In the heavyweight division, with the absence of Sipocz Richard of Hungary, a Dutch-German showdown looms large, with the comeback of heavyweight Jur Spijkers (NED) after a long injury and the German duo Johannes Frey and Jonas Schreiber.

Belgium fields a formidable lineup in the -48kg category, with judoka like Ellen Salens and Lois Petit aiming for podium finishes, while Columbia's Erika Lasso presents a formidable challenge.

Young talents like Luciana Catana (ROU) and Evelyn Beaton (CAN) will shine in the -52kg category, with Hungary's Rebeka Keller carrying the hopes of the home crowd.

In the -57kg category, Turkmenistan's Maysa Pardayeva, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Andjela Samardzic, and France's Martha Fawaz promise exciting contests, while Germany's Nadja Bazynski and Vivian Herrmann pose strong challenges in the -63kg category.

Elena Dengg (AUT), a junior European and world bronze medallist, is set to make her mark in the -70kg category, while Switzerland's Alina Lengweiler eyes further success. Italy's Linda Politi, Netherlands' Yael Van Heemst, and Germany's Raffaela Igl are top contenders in the -78kg category.

In the +78kg category, Croatia's Helena Vukovic is poised to clinch gold and add to her medal collection.