Women’s -63kg 2005 (Cairo) is now focussing on gold, The women’s -63kg has two leaders: even if she was never able to win against the Japanese Yoshie UENO, who would Decosse. Rasa SRAKA (SLO), Ye-Sul International Judo Federation love to add an Olympic Medal to her HWANG (KOR), Fei CHEN (CHN) and prize list (her sister, Masae, having won Maria PORTELA (BRA) will be interes- 2 Olympic titles) and the French Gé- ting outsiders. Anett MESZAROS, who is vrise EMANE, already world champion coming back from a long injury period, in two different weight categories (-70 could also be counted among the poten- and -63), who would like to definitively tial medalists, if she has recovered. prove that she is the best. The opposi- tion between the two champions should Women’s -78kg IJF NEWS be the fight of the Games in this cate- The women’s -78kg will be one of the gory. One year ago, Ueno was ‘easily’ strongest category of the tournament as N.13 - July 2012 leading the world ranking list, and was the four leaders of the world ranking list actually the competitor with the most will try to win the gold medal, and each points at the World Ranking List (men of them has the potential to do so. Over Olympic Games, London 2012 - PREVIEW and women). As a consequence of her the past two years, the lead of the cate- From July 28th to August 3rd, 2012, the Olympic Games will be held in the British capital, London. During seven regular good results, she was designated gory has changed many times. The whole days, the best judo players in the world, coming from 133 countries, will try to get the most prestigious title of their as the best current female judoka on the story begun when the four competitors occasion of the 60th birthday of the IJF, were still juniors. Two years ago, when sports career. Find hereafter the preview of the Games, category by category. celebrated just before the world cham- Kayla Harrison became world champion pionships in Paris. But Gevrise Emane in Tokyo, the match was transformed Women’s -48kg already incredible prize list. The judo won the World title, a few days later and into a titanic battle. One year later it fter the Beijing Olympic Games, Women’s -52kg world discovered her in 2008, when took the lead of the World Ranking. Last was the turn of Audrey Tcheuméo, from Tomoko Fukumi, who easily won There was not one, nor two, but three she won the Kano Cup. In 2009, when January, Ueno won the World Master in France, to win the world title in Paris. Athe 2009 World title in Rotterdam, Japanese athletes who entered the she was still beatable, the French Mor- Almaty, retaking the first position, but But in Tokyo, Akari Ogata defeated the seemed to be unbeatable, but slowly Ha- World Ranking list in the top twelve and gan Ribout, sent her back home, with Emane was not present. If Ueno might American, before being defeated by her runa Asami (World Champion in 2010 therefor were qualified for the London her outstanding uchi-mata, during the end her career after London 2012 and in Paris, on the occasion of the Grand and 2011) took the leadership over her Games. But the rule is clear, only one World Championship in Rotterdam. become an international coach, Emane Slam. Since Paris, Harrison has been teammate. For the last two years, it has athlete per country and per weight cate- Then, she had a perfect season in has already announced that she wants to increasing the level of her judo and she been obvious that Haruna Asami would gory can attend the Olympics and it was 2010, concluded with the world title. prepare the 2013 World Championships won all the tournaments she was enga- be the one to go to London, but an in- a difficult choice for Japan to differenti- 2011 was a little bit more complicated in Rio. Just behind the two champions, ged in. Last February, in Paris, Mayra jury at the beginning of the spring sea- ate Misato Nakamura and Yuka Nishida. several athletes have the potential to Aguiar also showed that she was in the son completely changed the prediction, The second one, who is currently the reach a medal, if not THE medal: China position to win the Olympics. She easily and it would finally be Fukumi, currently world number 1, was bronze medallist will be present as well as the Nether- beat Tcheumeo, who was actually co- world number one, who will discover the at the world championship 2007, not lands with a strong team and Israel will ming back from an injury. Just behind British Capital as the biggest favorite of bad for a first attempt at the internatio- send a very good outsider in the name the quartet, JOO Abigel, from Hungary, the competition in the women’s -48kg. nal level. One year later, Nakamura also of Alice SCHLESINGER, even if Yarden or the current Olympic Champion, from But one will also have to count on the obtained the bronze medal, this time it GERBI, believed until the last moment, Beijing, YANG Xiuli (CHN), have also Brazilian Sarah Menezes, world number was in Beijing, when she was only 19 that she will be the representative of very good chances to step on the po- three, sitting just behind the two Ja- years old, on the occasion of the Olym- her country in London. Munkhzaya dium of the London Games, when Heide panese athletes. Menezes just won the pic Games and that experience might TSEDEVSUREN, from Mongolia, 7th at WOLLERT (GER), Marhinde VERKERK Judo Grand Slam, Moscow 2012, defea- have made the difference. Or may be it the World Ranking List, has also a good (NED), Anamari VELENSEK (SLO) will ting the Belgium Charline Van Snick and is the fact that Nakamura almost nerer potential, as well as JOUNG Da-Woon be strong outsiders. With so many fa- the Romanian and Olympic Champion, looses against European fighters, the (KOR) or Claudia MALZAHN (GER). vorites and outsiders, the prediction Alina Dumitru. Earlier this year, she also only one having defeated her being the is almost impossible and the women’s obtained a promising silver medal on the French Gneto, during the Judo Grand Women’s -70kg -78kg will definitely be one of the most Slam, Paris 2011. After Beijing, the two specially when her teammate Aiko Sato In 2012, the favorite of the competition, attractive categories of the Olympic champions won all the world titles, two won the World title in Paris. But again, with no doubt, will be the French, Lucie tournament. for Nakamura and one for Nishida, who Matsumoto was able to take the lea- Decosse. Back in 2008, she was already will probably retire just after the games dership. The level of the category being one of the favorites of the Olympic tour- and become a coach. So, Nakamura will very high, it is kind of difficult to give nament, but she was defeated in the fi- be the ultimate favorite in London, and any prediction. If Matsumuto seems to nal by the Japanese, Ayumi Tanimoto. nobody seems to be really in position to be the big favorite, all the other com- For four years, the French has been the challenge her. But the Olympic Games petitors know that she is perfectible. best competitor of her weight category are different from any other competi- World number 3 from Portugal, Telma and nobody seemed to be able to chal- tions and MUNKHBAATAR Bundmaa Monteiro, if she competes in London lenge her… but last February, Haruka (MGL), World number 2, Erika MI- as she did in Paris, last February, will Tachimoto showed her that everything RANDA (BRA), World Number 4, Soraya be unbeatable. Rafaela Silva, recently was possible. Decosse loosing an ave- HADDAD (ALG), bronze medallist in crowned at the Pan American continen- rage number of one fight per year, de- occasion of the Judo Grand Slam, Paris Beijing 2008 and winner of the African tal championship and Automne Pavia clared it was the one she had to loose 2012 and a bronze medal at the World Championship this year, as well as KEL- are also awaiting a big day for them. But to remotivate herself in the perspective Masters, in Almaty, last January. MENDI Majlinda (IJF), Natalia KUZIU- the top 14 of the category shows also of the Games. She also declared that The last World Judo Tour competitions TINA (RUS) or Priscilla GNETO (FRA), some other big names who can dream she was not particularly stressed about showed that Van Snick, who has been could be considered having a good po- of a medal: Sabrina FILZMOSER (AUT), London. Of course she wants to add to regularly present on the international tential for a medal. regularly present at the international le- her prize list, the last title she is mis- podiums over the past months and Du- vel, Corina CAPRIORIU (ROU), Ioulietta sing, but defeat is part of sports as well mitru, crowned at the European level in Women’s 57kg BOUKOUVALA, bronze medallist a the as victory, said the French champion. Women’s +78kg 2012, were getting ready and should be The favorite of the women’s -57kg Tokyo World Championship, two years Thus Haruka Tachimoto was preferred to Even with a third position at the World able to, at least, step on the podium in weight category again will be a Japanese ago or Giulia QUINTAVALLE, the cur- Yoriko Kunihara to face Decosse, even Ranking list, Tong Wen (CHN) looks like London.