The European Judo Union (EJU) continues the series of publications dedicated to the Paris-2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Idman.biz informs that the press service of the institution also distinguished Hidayat Heydarov, the leader of the Azerbaijan national team.
The ratio of forces in the weight class of 73 kg was reflected in the article: "A gold, silver and bronze Olympic medal. That is the legacy of Lasha Shavdatushavili, who entered the Georgian history books with the Olympic title in London 2012. Now his fourth Olympic cycle, 12 years later and he is far from done. Albeit it now he has more major contenders. Leading the -73kg men is Hidayat Heydarov (AZE) who has engulfed the category and been on a winning streak. It seems very few could knock him off his game right now and he will have Azerbaijan’s 2008 -73kg Olympic Champion – turned coach – Elnur Mammadli in his corner."
Talking about other candidates, the portal specially mentioned Soichi Hashimoto: "Since Japan’s Ono Shohei’s retirement, Hashimoto Soichi has stepped up to the plate, and with a world ranking position of #2, he is most certainly one to watch. History-maker, Nils Stump took the World title for Switzerland in 2023 but was forced to take time off to tend to an injury but came back with a Grand Slam win and third-place finish in the World Championships this year, and in third seeding position. Manuel Lombardo (ITA) follows closely behind and this will be, as Brazil’s -66kg Olympic bronze medalist, Daniel Cargnin, his first Olympic cycle in this category which has proven to give him the strength he needed. In Tokyo it was a bittersweet 5th place finish, suffering defeat to An Baul (KOR)."
Idman.biz
