The two-day event is the second IJF-sanctioned tournament to carry points towards qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, following the Grand Prix in Havana earlier this month.

Despite only hosting its first Judo Grand Prix, Budapest is no stranger to the sport with the city housing the IJF Presidential Office of Marius Vizer and playing host to the successful European Championships in 2013.

These European Championships were held at the Papp Laszlo Sport Arena, which will also play host to this two-day Grand Prix.

The hosts have brought a strong contingent to their home event with a team of 54 judoka set to take to the tatami over the weekend.

Japan will also be touted to do well at the Grand Prix with their 10-strong team containing eight members of their World Championships team set to compete in the IJF's flagship World Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia, from August 25 until 31.

In total, 226 men and 181 women will compete in Budapest with the draw for the competition held today inside the Papp Laszio Sport Arena.

The official draw for the Budapest Grand Prix took place inside the Papp Laszlo Sport Arena ©IJF



Speaking at the event,Vizer, who himself is a Romanian-born Hungarian, said: "Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen, I welcome all of you to the first Grand Prix of Budapest.

"I have great pleasure to introduce to you to some special guests, including the President of the Mini Golf Federation Gerhard Zimmermann from Germany and the President of the International Fistball Association Karl Weiss

"There are a lot of members here from the Pan American judo team, Asian judo, Europe, Africa and Oceania.

"Welcome to all of you.

"I hope we will enjoy together the first Grand Prix in Budapest and it will be success.

"I wish all coaches, athletes and delegates to achieve success and the best for their delegation."

Among Hungary's strongest medal hopefuls at their home Grand Prix will be European champion Eva Csernoviczki and European bronze medallist Abigel Joo.

Csernoviczki takes to the tatami in the women's under 48 kilogramme category and will be the strong favourite to claim the gold medal on home soil.

Joo may have a tougher time in the women's under 79kg category as she comes up against Great Britain's Olympic silver medallist Gemma Gibbons and Samsun Grand Prix silver medallist Natalia Powell, also from Britain.

On the men's side, Japanese world champion Takato Naohisa will look to maintain his unbeaten streak at under 60kg, which stretches back to the 2013 All Japan Judo Championships, whilst Mongolia's talismanic former world champion Khashbaatar Tsagaanbaatar will be looking for a strong performance to ensure he's at his best when the World Judo Tour returns to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar in July.

Watch the latest action on Judo TV here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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