Temur Rakhimov will rock the place in Tajikistan for a good result

The upcoming final day of the Dushanbe Grand Slam 2024 promises to be a thrilling conclusion to an outstanding event, especially with the potential rematch between Temur Rakhimov and Teddy Riner in the +100kg category. Their previous encounter, which ended abruptly with Riner's impressive victory at the World Judo Championships in Doha 2023, left spectators eager for a rematch. Rakhimov, fueled by the desire to avenge his quick defeat, will have the opportunity to do so on his home turf if both athletes advance to the final as the top seeds.

Riner enters the competition in peak form, having secured victories at the 2024 Paris and Antalya grand slams. On the other hand, Rakhimov returns to the World Judo Tour after a nine-month hiatus since claiming silver at the Hungary Masters 2023. His last encounter with Riner left him determined to prove himself against the judo legend, especially with the support of his home crowd.

In addition to the anticipated showdown between Rakhimov and Riner, the competition features other formidable contenders, including Marti Puumalainen, the 2023 European champion from Finland. Seeded third, Puumalainen could potentially face Riner in the semi-finals, adding further excitement to the event.

Among the unseeded players vying for a chance at Olympic qualification are Erik Abramov and Losseni Kone of Germany, both locked in a close race for their country's Olympic team. However, they face tough competition from seeded players and other challengers such as Munir Ertug of Turkey, Yerassyl Kazhybayev of Kazakhstan, and Kacper Szczurowski of Poland, who will need strong performances to secure a spot in the final standings.