Qingdao Grand Prix Draw Sets Azerbaijan's Opening Opponents

On 25 June, the draw ceremony for the Judo Grand Prix was held in Qingdao, China. Following the draw, the opening opponents of the Azerbaijani judoka were determined.

Azerbaijan will be represented by 17 judoka (11 men and 6 women) across 10 weight categories at the tournament, which offers qualification points for the Los Angeles Olympic Games. A total of 500 athletes from 57 countries will compete.

During the Qingdao Grand Prix, taking place from 26 to 28 June, the opening day's preliminary rounds will begin at 05:00, while the final block will start at 13:00. All contests will be broadcast live on JudoTV and CBC Sport.

Men

-60 kg, Round of 32
Ahmad Yusifov – Dilshod Khalmatov (Ukraine)
Balabay Aghayev – Artem Lesyuk (Ukraine)

-66 kg, Round of 64
Tofig Mammadov – Lin Cheng (China)

-66 kg, Round of 32
Ruslan Pashayev – winner of Salih Yıldız (Türkiye) vs Ziyang Xue (China)

-73 kg, Round of 32
Rashid Mammadaliyev – winner of Nathan Cadignan (France) vs Minghao Zhang (China)

-81 kg, Round of 32
Hidayat Heydarov – winner of Jose Maria Mendiola Izquieta (Spain) vs David Lima (Brazil)
Zelim Tckaev – winner of Enkhtur Jugdergarav (Mongolia) vs Oskari Mäkinen (Finland)

-90 kg, Round of 32
Aslan Kotsoyev – Yahor Varapayeu (Belarus)
Murad Fatiyev – Shuo Li (China)

+100 kg, Round of 16
Jamal Gamzatkhanov – winner of Dong Lin (China) vs Sylvain Lorenzo Agro (Italy)
Ushangi Kokauri – winner of Ruixuan Li (China) vs Tamerlan Bashaev (Individual Neutral Athletes)

Women

-48 kg, Round of 32
Konul Aliyeva – Jana Cid Balcells (Spain)
Shafag Hamidova – Abiba Abuzhakynova (Kazakhstan)

-52 kg, Round of 32
Gultac Mammadaliyeva – Kinga Klimczak (Poland)
Leyla Aliyeva – Aleksandra Kaleta (Poland)

-63 kg, Round of 32
Fidan Alizada – Dali Liluashvili (Individual Neutral Athletes)

-70 kg, Round of 64
Sudaba Aghayeva – Shirinjon Yuldoshova (Uzbekistan)