Beginning tomorrow, the three-day contest will pit 219 competitors from 32 countries against one another as they battle for all-important Olympic qualification points en route to Rio 2016

"I want to highlight the very good organisation and preparation of the event so far," said Daniel Lascau, sports director at the International Judo Federation (IJF).

"We can measure the efforts of the Chinese Judo Association to have a higher standard every year.

"The Olympic qualification started last May.

"Thus, the Qingdao Grand Prix is very important.

"Many Olympic and World medallists have come here to China to collect some important points in the framework of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

"For the Chinese Judo Association it is a good opportunity to test their athletes as they can have four competitors per weight category.

"I wish a good event to all the participants and organisers and I already hope to see you next year for another Olympic qualification event in China."

Mongolia's Boldbaatar Ganbat will be favourite to take gold in the men's under 60 category at the Qingdao Grand Prix ©Getty Images



Topping the bill is men's under 60 kilogram world champion and world number one Boldbaatar Ganbat of Mongolia.

The 27-year-old bounced back from a disappointing fifth at the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro last year to take gold in Chelyabinsk, Russia in August.

He also took top prizes at the IJF Grand Slam in Paris and the Grand Prix on home soil in Ulaanbaatar.

He will, however, face stern competition from team mate Kherlen Ganbold and Chinese Taipei's Ming Yen Tsai, who took silver at the last Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi.

Silver medals in three World Tour events this year has put Dutch judoka Noel Van T End in a prime position to qualify for Rio 2016.

He goes to China as one of the favourites to take the under 90kg title with his closest competitor, Komronshoh Ustopiriyon of Tajikistan, sitting 12 places below him in the world rankings at number 17.

Karl-Richard Frey (white) will be bidding for a first Grand Prix gold of the season as he competes in the under 100kg contest ©Getty Images



Karl-Richard Frey of Germany could be on course for a first Grand Prix title of the year as he sits as the favourite in the under 100kg contest.

The German took silver in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, following his second place finish at the World Championships in August.

His closest rival will be team mate Dimitri Peters who defeated Frey in the final of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in early November.

Three silver medallists from the 2014 World Championships will grace the tatami on the women's side of competition as Argentina's Paula Pareto, Romania's Andreea Chitu and Israel's Yarden Gerbi challenge for gold in the under 48kg, under 52kg and under 63kg weight categories, respectively.

In the under 70kg category, Bernadette Graf of Austria will be tipped to take the top prize following a win at the Astana Grand Prix and silver at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, while North Korea's Kyong Sol will be hoping to do one better than the silver she picked up at the Asian Games in Incheon in the over 78kg division.

Competition is due to get underway inside the Qingdao Guoxin Stadium tomorrow with the women's under 48, under 52 and under 57kg categories, as well as the men's 60 and 66kg divisions.

Watch the latest action on Judo TV here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
November 2014: Hungarian continues superb season on final day of Abu Dhabi Judo Grand Slam
November 2014: Nifontov continues fine form to seal gold on day two of Abu Dhabi Judo Grand Slam
October 2014: Kelmendi shows why she is Kosovo's best hope for Rio 2016 glory with Abu Dhabi victory
October 2014: Abu Dhabi gearing up to host first Judo Grand Slam
October 2014: Iaromka wins all-Ukraine final on last day of International Judo Federation Grand Prix in Tashkent