Previously held in Moscow, this weekend's competition will feature 265 athletes from 38 countries taking to the tatami at the newly-built Tyumen Athletic Centre.

Crucial ranking points will be on offer for the World Championships as the top eight ranked judoka in all weight categories during the Grand Slam Tour will be seeded for the main event in Chelyabinsk.

The draw for the Tyumen Grand Slam, which takes place tomorrow and Sunday (July 13), took place at the West Siberian Innovation Centre today, where Tyumen Judo Federation President, Sergey Kushkov, spoke to athletes and team officials.

"I'm delighted to welcome you all in Tyumen," said Kushkov.

"We are very proud to stage this event in the Tyumen region.

"We have experience in hosting large competitions here such as the World Open Championships, ECCO Team Challenge and the World Judo Masters.

"I am sure the competition will produce many exciting fights and I hope you all have an enjoyable time here in Tyumen."

Officials at the draw for the Tyumen Judo Grand Slam which gets underway tomorrow ©IJF




Tyumen-based Grigorii Sulemin is sure to get the biggest cheer from the home crowd once the action gets underway, as he competes in the men's under 90 kilogram class.

But the Russian will face stiff competition from the likes of Hungarian Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix silver medallist Krisztian Toth and former Baku Grand Slam winner Shahin Gahramanov of Azaerbaijan.

Former European Under-23 Championship silver medallist Robert Mshvidobadze and Kamal Khan-Magomedov will be looking for big performances in the under 60kg and under 66kg categories respectively, as they seek to ensure a spot at the World Championships on home soil next month.

European champion Dex Elmont of The Netherlands will be the favourite for gold in the under 73kg class, with likely challenges coming from Hungary's Olympic bronze medal winner Miklos Ungvari and Brazilian number one Alex-William Pombo Da Silva.

American Travis Stevens is the top seed in the under 81kg category, where another Brazilian is expected to figure strongly in the form of World Judo Masters bronze medallist Victor Penalber.

The South American nation is also well represented in the under 100kg and over 100kg classes as former world champion Luciano Correa and world number two Rafael Silva will be tough to beat.

But Silva will be wary of Tunisian Faicel Jaballah who tops the world rankings following his win at the African Championships last month.

Grigorii Sulemin (left) will be out to impress in his home city of Tyumen ©AFP/Getty Images



Brazil also has strong representation in the women's competitions headed by Olympic gold medallist Sarah Menezes and reigning world champion Rafaela Silva.

Menezes claimed gold at the Moscow Grand Slam last year and will be favourite once again in the under 48kg class while Silva, who became the first Brazilian woman to win a world title in Rio de Janeiro last year, will be the one to beat in the under 57kg category, though compatriot Ketleyn Quadros could prove a big obstacle.

World number two Maria Suelen Altheman will fly the Brazilian flag in the over 78kg event, where Japan's Kanae Yamabe and Jasmin Kuelbs of Germany will be the biggest threats.

Elsewhere, reigning world champion Yarden Gerbi of Israel will be out to dominate in the under 63kg category, while Dutch European champion Kim Polling will be up against the likes of world number two Laura Vargas-Koch of Germany, French Olympic bronze medal winner Gevrise Emane and Canada's world number four Kelita Zupancic in the under 70kg competition.

The under 78kg category looks set to be one of the most competitive in Tyumen as top seed Abigal Joo of Hungary will be up against London 2012 champion Kayla Harrison of the United States, Great Britain's silver medal winner Gemma Gibbons and Brazilian bronze medallist Mayra Aguiar.

Watch the latest action on Judo TV here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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