Un World Cup is always a World Cup, but if you are a month away from the Olympics and it is the competition that gives the most points for Tokyo, the importance grows. From this Sunday and for a week we will meet in Budapest (Hungra) the elite of the judo planet to fight for the world scepter. There will be no barracks and, from Spain, a delegation made up of 15 judokas they will seek the glory that I have already achieved Niko Shera in 2018 crowned world champion.
The Spanish judoka, number 1 of the IJF ranking, seek to repeat the feat after two editions in which it was left out of the medals. It is one of the big favorites at -90 kg And, with the Olympic Games just around the corner, it is a great opportunity to show the level with which it reaches the big event of 2021.
Behind him appear other big names, like those of Alberto Gaitero (-66 kg), already qualified for Tokyo 2020; or that of Fran Garrigs (-60 kg), current European champion and Niko Shera’s clubmate. Garrigs wants to get on the world podium for the first time and in Budapest he has quite a few ballots, especially due to the great form in which he arrives.
They complete the male list Dani Prez (-66 kg), Salva Cases (-73 kg), Jos Mara Mendiola (-81 kg) and Alfonso Urquiza (-81 kg). All of them rush their options in a World Cup in Budapest that will close the Olympic qualification.
Mara Bernabu, for her third World Cup metal
Mara Bernabu You already know what it is to hang a medal in a World Cup. The Salamanca has a silver and a bronze and, in Budapest, look for the third in -70 kg. Next to her, judokas of the stature of Julia Figueroa (European and Olympic bronze in Ro 2016) in -48 kg and Ana Prez Box, third in the Kazan Grand Slam of this same year in -52 kg, they will fight for metals.
They complete the list of the women’s army Laura Martnez (-48 kg), Estrella Lpez (-52 kg), Cristina Cabaa (-63 kg), Isabel Puche (-63 kg) and Sara lvarez (+78 kg).
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