Judo Tournament Preview

The Olympic Judo Tournament is the absolute pinnacle of this dynamic and explosive sport. Places are limited and the players have been charging round the world for two years accumulating ranking points to get a place and if possible a seeding. The top nations are Japan, France, Russia and the other former Soviet states (Georgia, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Ukraine etc). Great Britain has had a poor record and are desperate to win a medal this time (very unlikely in my opinion). There are 7 weight categories for men and women. Over 7 days of competition there will be one category for men and one for women completed each day. The events take place in the Excel centre.

If you have never watched any top class judo I recommend catching some of it on the dedicated channel the BBC are providing. And if you only catch one session I would watch the finals session on day 3 or 4 of the competition (mens 73kg or mens 81kg) as these will be the best in my opinion.

Here's a run down of the contenders and stories to watch out for:

Mens

-60kg: Ashley McKenzie goes for the UK, he's 22 years old and has had a colourful life (ADHD, foster kid, trouble with the law). He is highly talented but this will prob come too soon for him. The top competitors, and they are tough, are the Japanese, Russian, Ukrainian and the superstar SOBIROV from Uzbekistan. Very tough category and hard to call

-66kg: Colin Oates goes for the UK, he's a solid performer and an outside bet. Quarter finals would be good. Again an extremely tough category with the Russian GADANOV a strong favourite. The Japanese player Ebinumi is classy but a bit eratic. Colin has it all to do

-73kg: Daniel Williams may find himself in a world of pain because this category is the best in the competition, pound for pound. The Korean WANG and his rival NAKAYA from Japan are exceptional fighters and if they make the final it will be like the Nadal and Federer of the judo world. Included in this category are some superb fighters like Dex Elmont (NED), Ugo LeGrand (FRA) and Isaev (RUS). This will be top class action on the third day and is highly recommended.

-81kg: Euan Burton is the UKs highest seeded player but he too finds himself in an exceptionally tough category. He has had some good results and on his day can beat anyone in the world but this is really tough. A bronze medal would rate an outstanding achievement but I think its unlikely. Watch out for the Russian MAGOMEDOV who I rate one of the strongest pound for pound fighters around. A former world champion he came out of retirement to try to get to the games. Seeded 6 no one will want to draw him. Lots of brilliant fighters in here and anything could happen. Explosive action is guaranteed

-90kg: Winston Gordon is a fine player and is capable of going deep. However, the whole story in this weight category is about the legend, double world and Olympic Champion from Greece ILIAS ILADIS. The man is hero, a legend and a treasure in his home country. He is their Rafa Nadal, Vitali Klitschko and Lionel Messi rolled into one. In the recent European Champs he was flattened by an up and coming German called Christopher Lambert and he is a name to look out for.

-100kg: 4 players standout and the winner will almost certainly be from Kaz, Rus, Jpn or Ned. Not much to say. The Brit James Austion has no chance whatsoever and is cannon fodder for the big guys

+100kg: This is all about the legend that is TEDDY RINER. The 22 year old Frenchman is 6 foot 8 inches tall and weighs 128kgs. Already a 5 time World Champion he moves like a ballet dancer and explodes with the power of a heavyweight weight lifter. Faster , stronger and better than everyone he is a virtual certainty and to me is the most certain Gold Medal winner in the entire Olympic Games. No joke, he can't be beat. The Brit Chris Sherrington has done well to qualify

Womens:- (I know much less about this)

-48kg: The Japanese fighter is rightly ranked #1 but the story revolves around Saran Menezes a girl from the slums in Brazil hoping to win Gold. I will be cheering her on. I don't know the Brit Kelly Edwards and assume she is a no hoper. The other story is the Roumanian girl, Dumitru, who is the reigning Olympic champ and 8 time European champion. She will be retiring after the games. The improver in Charlene Van Snick from Belgium who has burst onto the scene this year #3

-52kg: The Japanese will be hard to beat as they have the choice of the 4 top ranked girls in this category. Virtually a walkover for them. Sophie Cox, the Brit, had a 5 year break from the sport and came back when London was announced. She has a chance as she is World class. Needs a decent draw to avoid the top seeds

- 57kg:Japanese girl is different class, she's a 1.2 shot in my mind for gold medal. Sarah Clark is experienced and not na bad player, on her day she can go well

- 63kg: two fighters stand out from Japan and France and that should be the final. Gemma Howell will do well to make the second round

- 70kgs: shootout between Lucie Decosse (superstar multi champion) from France and the dutch girl Edith Bosch. British girl not much chance

-78kgs: The Americans are looking for their first Gold medal with Kayla Harrison but this is a wide open category as they are all rubbish so I guess the Brit might have a chance

+ 78kgs: Karina Bryant has won lots of medals and could well get one here. This is a rubbish category and they can all beat each other and really not worth watching. The enormous Chinese QIN and the Japanese TACHIMOTO form my shortlist

Anyway there you go, if you do find yourself with nothing to do or watch, check the judo out, especially the finals sessions and if you do I hope this little guide to the competitors helps enhance the enjoyment.

For me its all about Wang (-73kg), Iliadis (-90kg), Riner (+100kg) and hopefully seeing a Brit win a medal although I'm not holding my breath