A day before the opening of the Tel Aviv Grand Slam in judo, a raffle was held today (Wednesday), attended by hundreds of athletes from 34 countries.
Even before the draw, the coaches had been informed since the beginning of the Corona crisis that from the current competition, the coaches could remove the masks while instructing the athletes during the fights, but would have to return them immediately at the end of the fight.
Olympic bronze medalist from the team competition and European Champion for 2020 Peter Placzyk, who competes in the category up to 100 kg, is ranked first in the competition and therefore won an automatic promotion to the second round, where he waits for a forehead between the Ukrainian and Uzbek.
Former world champion Sagi Muki (up to 81kg) will start the first fight against 20-year-old Rejov Schaudman from Tajikistan in the first Grand Slam competition of his career.
Tal Flicker.
Responsible for the quote in the title, Photo: Alan Shiver
An interesting weight is expected for us in 66 kg, where the two Israelis who fought until the last minute for a ticket to Tokyo, Tal Flicker and Baruch Shmailov, when the latter was the one who eventually traveled, the two could meet in the quarterfinals against each other, if they beat their first rivals.
"Personally, I really like competing in Israel," Flicker said on the eve of the competition.
The crowd will push us.
As an athlete, I disconnect myself from what happens around me when I step on the mattress, but an atmosphere like that in Tel Aviv, "there is no competition in the world."
Shlomo Group Hall.
Final preparations, Photo: Oren Aharoni
The captain of the women's Shira Rishoni team, who will compete in the 48 kg weight class.
Waiting for her first battle for the winner between an Austrian and a Brazilian: "I am very excited to return to the competition in Israel, and I have very good memories of this competition.
For me, this is the first competition in 2022 and I hope to succeed in bringing the capabilities to the best audience in the world. "
Geffen Primo (52 kg) will start her first fight against a rival from Venezuela: "I am excited to start the 2022 competition season at the Grand Slam in Tel Aviv.
It's no secret that I really like competitions with an audience, and there is nothing better than the home audience who came to cheer us on here, year after year.
Waiting for Thursday. "
Vine Primo.
Bronze medal at the World Championships, Photo: Alan Schieber
The one who returns to compete for the first time since the Olympics is Timna Nelson Levy (who will compete in the 57 kg weight class), when she is ranked first and will start directly in the second round:
Thanks to the union and the amazing team, a very high level event is being set up here.
I wish the whole team a lot of success and a lot of medals in the coming days! "
Tomorrow (Thursday) the qualifying round with the low weights will open from 11:00, with the medal fights every day taking place from 17:00.
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