European stars ready to shake up opening day at Linz Grand Prix

The Grand Prix Upper Austria is back in Linz and the opening day already looks stacked. A total of 482 judoka from 59 nations are expected, slightly below the 2024 Olympic-year record but still the strongest line-up of the last three editions. The host nation Austria brings a big team of 41 athletes, with Italy, Germany, France and Great Britain all sending strong delegations, giving Europe a massive presence on home soil.

Europe arrives in Linz with serious medal ambitions across all lightweights.

Day one belongs to the lighter divisions: women’s U48kg, U52kg and U57kg, plus men’s U60kg and U66kg. In the women’s U48kg, world number one Abiba Abuzhakynova from Kazakhstan leads the way after medals at multiple World Championships and a title in Linz last year. Europe’s big hope is Laura Martinez Abelenda, winner of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, where she shared the podium with Abuzhakynova. Maria Celia Laborde, Eva Perez Soler, Mary Dee Vargas and Mitsuki Kondo add even more depth to a category where every mistake can cost a medal.

In men’s U60kg, France’s Romain Valadier-Picard is hunting redemption after a rough outing in Paris. The 2025 world silver medallist and 2023 Linz champion knows exactly how to win here and will be one of the names to watch. Standing in his way is 2023 world champion Francisco Garrigos, who had a disappointing seventh place in Linz last year but remains dangerous. With so many evenly matched fighters, this division could easily deliver surprise semi-finalists.

Spain leads the charge in women’s U52kg with Ayumi Leiva Sanchez, coming off a silver at the Guadalajara Grand Prix and hungry for a first gold in Linz. Hungarian world bronze medallist Roza Gyertyas is also chasing her maiden Grand Prix victory, while Israel’s Gefen Primo, already a Grand Prix champion, will be hunting another podium. Multiple strong European judoka in the same draw mean intense battles right from the first round.

The men’s U66kg is the most crowded field on day one with 47 competitors. Azerbaijan’s Ruslan Pashayev, world number six and a recent bronze medallist in Paris, looks like one of the main contenders. Last year’s Linz winner Ronald Lima has already shown he thrives in Austria, while Grand Slam champions like Gusman Kyrgyzbayev and David Garcia Torne underline how brutal this category is. Just reaching the final block will feel like a mini-tournament of its own.

In women’s U57kg, top seed Marica Perisic from Serbia opens her season in a familiar arena. She took the Linz Grand Prix title in 2024 and placed seventh at the Olympic Games the same year, making her one of Europe’s leading names. She will be tested by Mariana Esteves, bronze medallist in Linz in 2025, by Brazil’s in-form Jessica Lima and by European challengers Martha Fawaz of France and Acelya Toprak of Great Britain. With big draws, high-ranked favourites and a strong European block, day one in Linz is set for fast-paced, high-pressure judo from the very first grip.

Source: JudoInside