GB Judoka set for Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam

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The city of Astana will play host to the Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam this weekend which marks the final World Tour event of the Paris 2024 year one qualification window.

This is the first time a Grand Slam has been staged in the country which has successfully staged Grand Prix events in the past.

Friday 15th June – 05:30 am (BST) Preliminary | 12:00 Final Block

Acelya Toprak (Darren Hawney & Fitzroy Davies; Metro Judo Club & Relentless Judo) competes alongside Malin Wilson (Judo Scotland; Javi Delgado) in the -57kg category.

Toprak enters as 6th seed and will face either Balnur Kurmanbay (KAZ) or Daria Kurbonmamadova (AIN) in round two. Wilson, meanwhile, will face Dana Abdirova (KAZ) in round one.

 Sam Hall (Ryecroft JC; Fitzroy Davies) continues his return from injury and competes in the -66kg category alongside Alexander Short (Billy Cusack; Edinburgh Judo).

Hall faces Ahmad Shabir Ahmadi (AFG) in the opening round, whilst Short faces Oscar Pertelson (EST).

Saturday 16th June – 06:30 am Preliminary | 12:00 Final Block

Scottish pair Oliver Short (Billy Cusack; Edinburgh Judo) and Scott Cusack (Billy Cusack; Edinburgh Judo) will be in action in the -73kg and -81kg categories respectively.

Short has an opening-round contest against Askar Narkulov (KAZ) whilst Cusack has been drawn against Dimitri Gochilaidze (GEO).

Sunday 17th June – 06:00 am Preliminary | 12:00 Final Block

The final day of competition sees 4 GB judoka in action.

Natalie Powell (Irfon JC) enters the -78kg category as 4th seed. Competing for the first time following the World Championships, Powell will face either Fanny Estelle Posvite (FRA) or Migle Dudenaite (LTU) in round two, following an opening round bye.

Rhys Thompson (Enfield JC; George Hyslop) and Harry Lovell-Hewitt (Stroud JC; Richard Neale) compete in the -100kg category.

Thompson enters as 8th seed and faces Islam Bozbayev (KAZ) in the opening round, whilst Lovell-Hewitt has been drawn against Zlatko Kumric (CRO) in his opening round contest.

Sarah Adlington (Billy Cusack; Edinburgh Judo) returns to the IJF World Tour circuit and has been drawn against number-one seed Lea Fontaine (FRA) in the opening round.

You can watch all the action from the Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam LIVE at judotv.com each day.

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