IJF World Tour returns

This weekend sees the return of the IJF World Tour following the Tokyo Olympic Games in what marks the opening of a new Olympic Cycle.

Zagreb with its rich cultural history has staged the World Tour for several years. This year it welcomes a new generation of judoka vying for Paris 2024 Olympic selection.

Twelve GB Judo fighters will be in action at the Zagreb Grand Prix, which starts on Friday.

Friday

Acelya Toprak and Josie Steele will both compete in the -57kg category.

Toprak enters in great form having picked up a bronze medal at the Sarajevo European Open last weekend. Meanwhile former European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) bronze medallist Steele makes her World Tour debut.

Toprak will face Panamerican Junior Champion Mariah Holguin (USA) in the opening round.

Steele meanwhile has been drawn against No.1 seed Kaja Kajzer (SLO) in the opening round. Kaizer recently finished 5^th at the Tokyo Olympic Games following a silver medal at the European Championships.

Former EYOF champion Amy Platten (-48kg) heads to Zagreb following a 7^th place finish at the Sarajevo European Open last weekend.

Seeded 8^th Platten has an opening round bye and will face Ana Budescu (ROU) in Round 2.

Former European Junior Championship silver medallist Samuel Hall competes in the -60kg category. This is the first time he has competed on the international circuit since The Hague Grand Prix back in 2017.

Hall has been drawn in Pool B and will face Maximilian Heyder (GER) in the opening round.

Alexander Short and Gregg Varey compete in the -66kg category. Varey had a career high World Tour finished of 7^th at the Antalya Grand Slam earlier this year, whist Short makes his 4^th World Tour appearance.

Varey will face Sarajevo European Open gold medallist Ivo Verhorstert (NED) in the opening round. Meanwhile Short has been drawn against 2020 European U23 Championship silver medallist Robert Klacar (CRO) in Round 1.

Saturday

2019 European Junior Champion Kelly Petersen-Pollard makes her Grand Prix debut. She finished 7^th on her World Tour debut at the Tel Aviv Grand Slam earlier this year. Petersen-Pollard enters in great form having recently won the Sarajevo European Open last weekend.

Petersen-Pollard is joined in the -70kg category by Jemima Yeats-Brown who is a two-time Grand Prix bronze medallist.

Petersen-Pollard enters as 3^rd seed and following an opening round bye, will face wither Eliza Wroblewska (POL) or Melissa Myers (USA).

Meanwhile, Yeats-Brown is 7^th seed and will face Millena Silva (BRA) or Andela Violic (CRO) in Round 2 following an opening round bye.

Eric Ham finished 7^th at the Zagreb Grand Prix back in 2019 and will be joined by last weekend’s Sarajevo European Open silver medallist Dan Powell in the -73kg category.

Ham will face Roope Korhonen (FIN) in the opening round. Powell meanwhile will face 18-year old Jumber Meladze (GEO) in his opening round contest.

Sunday

Emma Reid is another fighter heading to Zagreb in form after taking gold at the Sarajevo European Open last weekend, a career high result for the -78kg competitor.

Seeded 4^th, Reid will face former European U23 Championship bronze medallist Sophie Berger (BEL) in the Quarter-Finals following a Round 1 bye.

Former European U23 Championship silver medallist Jamal Petgrave competes in the -90kg.

Petgrave will face Ben Tenenbaum (ISR) in the opening round.

Action on Friday starts at 10:30am (BST) and 11:00am on Saturday and Sunday.

Final Block is scheduled to commence at 16:00 on each day.

British Judo will bring you a recap of how all your British fighters perform each day and you can follow the action on the British Judo social media channels. You can also watch the action live on the British Judo homepage.

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