Italian women stunt in Abu Dhabi

In three days of competition at the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi this week more athletes took valuable points for Olympic qualification or learned what to do to take more points next event at the Tokyo Grand Slam or continental Championships next week.

Once again, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam kept all its promises, each of the 14 weight categories offering its share of spectacle and emotion. In the end, Italy won the nations ranking, with three hard-fought gold medals won by the women's team at the top of its game. Lightweight Assunta Scutto is the world number one and she showed why. Odette Giuffrida is still a valuable potential Olympic medallist for Paris, this could be her third in a row for the disciplined Giuffrida. Alice Bellandi has it all for quite some time in this Olympic era, once more she dominated her class. Does this all add up to three medals in Paris? We cannot predict as judo is extremely competitive also in the women’s division with the above winners. Abu Dhabi didn’t have all the top fighters and was without the Japanese team. Still there was enough excitement. What about two Canadian women?

Canada followed Italy just behind with two titles and an all-Canadian final at U57kg. It’s going to be exciting who of the two will qualify for the Olympic Games, either Klimkait (winner in Abu Dhabi) or world champion Christa Deguchi this time.

France is doing well with its third place and four medals in total. In all, 22 countries left Abu Dhabi with medals and 32 participated in the final block.

Not taken up in the country ranking was a selection of judoka from Belarus and Russia, however good for four medals, and normally the Russian would top the tally. World Champions Arman Adamian (AIN) and Inal Tasoev (AIN) confirmed their skills, and once they are allowed to compete in Paris, they will be an asset to win Olympic gold.

On the last day judo fans enjoyed seeing the winning return of former world champion Nemanja Majdov (SRB), while Alice Bellandi (ITA) confirmed her first place in the world ranking and Rochelle Nunes (POR) scored important points by demonstrating technique, power and tactical mastery.

Judo in Abu Dhabi is not over yet though. In two days the kata world championships will open, followed by the veterans world championships.