The Guadeloupe-born 26-year-old, a reigning Olympic and seven-time world champion, last month crowned Sport Hero of the Year at the inaugural SportAccord Euronews Awards, will be hot favourite to continue a remarkable unbeaten streak stretching back to 2010, although question marks over his fitness after some recent injury concerns could make things harder than anticipated. 

Georgia's Adam Okrushvili will lead the opposition in what should be a last major test for both men ahead of next month's European Championships, taking place alongside the European Games in Baku, while other contenders are Faicel Jaballah of Tunisia and Ryu Schichinohe of Japan, the man who Riner beat in last year's World Championship final.

Riner is not the only French hope competing on African soil, with Audrey Tcheumeo a leading contender in the women's under 78kg division, although United States' London 2012 Olympic champion Kayla Harrison is set to provide tough opposition. 

As ever, Georgia will send a strong team, particularly in the heavier male categories where Avtandili Tchrikishvili and world number one Varlam Liparteliani will be leading contenders in the under 81 and under 90kg categories.

Mongolia will be poised for podium finishes in the lighter divisions, meanwhile, with 2013 world champion Urantsetseg Munkhbat favourite in the women's under 48kg event and Boldbaatar Ganbat likewise in the male under 60kg division. 

Although several leading names are absent, such as Kosovo's Majilinda Kelmendi, other strong female contenders will be Portugal's Telma Monteiro at under 57kg's, The Netherlands' Kim Polling at under 70kg and Cuba's world and Olympic champion Idalys Ortiz at over 78kg, while on the men's side Czech Republic's Lukas Krpalek is poised for success in the under 100kg competition.

The two-day event will mark the first time the Masters event, which aims to gather the top 16 athletes in each weight category, will take place in an African country, with each winner receiving 700 world ranking points.  

“It is a great honour and occasion to be united in Rabat, one year prior to the Olympic Games and I am convinced that we will have a fantastic event," said International Judo Federation (IJF) President Marius Vizer.

"Year by year, the popularity of judo is increasing and we have had so far a lot of successes, I can already announce that next year, the event will be held in Mexico, in Guadalajara.

“I want to underline the very good synergy between the African Judo Union and the IJF to organise this edition of the World Masters.

"This event, which under the hospices of the King of Morocco, his Majesty Mohammed VI, is very important.

"It is a great promotion for our sport that will be broadcasted over 150 countries.

"It is a fantastic tool to show the values, the tradition and the culture of Morocco worldwide.“

Watch the latest action on Judo TV here.

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