- George Chung
- Jul 17, 2024
- 2 min read
Day Two of judo at the Paris Olympic Games will take place on Sunday, July 28th, featuring competitors in the U52kg and U66kg weight classes. This day could potentially highlight predictable outcomes for the gold medals. However, given the unpredictable nature of the Olympic Games where mental fortitude is as critical as skill, surprises may be in store.
Among the strong contenders are siblings Uta and Hifumi Abe from Japan, who are looking to replicate their remarkable gold-medal victories in Tokyo. In contrast, World Champion Odette Giuffrida of Italy, ranked third globally, is determined to enhance her Olympic medal collection with a gold, building on her previous silver and bronze achievements.
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Also vying for gold in the U52kg category is France's Amandine Buchard, ranked fourth. Known for her passionate and heartfelt performances, Buchard, a silver medalist from Tokyo, is aiming to reach the top of the podium in Paris. Another notable athlete is Chelsie Giles of Great Britain, who consistently finishes with a medal, evident from her previous Olympic bronze and consistent top-five finishes since 2022.
The Abes are set to create another magical moment in Paris, yet several competitors are prepared to challenge this narrative. Abe Uta, for instance, poses a significant threat in the early rounds of the -52kg category, with the potential to upset top seeds, predominantly from Europe. Diyora Keldiyorova from Uzbekistan and Distria Krasniqi of Kosovo, transitioning to a new weight class after her Olympic triumph in the -48kg category, are also serious contenders aiming for dual Olympic titles.
The competitive field is formidable, and predicting outcomes is challenging. Each of the top three seeds from Tokyo is poised for success again in Paris, joined by other strong contenders like Reka Pupp of Hungary, Gefen Primo of Israel, and Germany's Mascha Ballhaus. Emerging talents like Ariane Toro Soler from Spain and Binta Ndiaye of Switzerland could also make surprising advances.
In the U66kg category, Hifumi Abe is well-positioned to navigate through the brackets potentially facing Denis Vieru of Moldova, the top seed who had a remarkable 2023 but has faced challenges this year. The field remains competitive, with former medalists like Vazha Margvelashvili of Georgia seeking to defend or improve their standings.
The judo arena in Paris is set for dramatic bouts and potential upsets, with every athlete aiming to etch their names in Olympic history.
