The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which takes place on 20-21 November, in the United Arab Emirates, features 126 (87 male and 36 female) judoka from 36 nations. There will be a record prize money event: US$ 200.000.
Medalists will share exact the same ammount of money as in IJF Grand Slams, instead of the Grand Prix standard of US$ 100.000: in Abu Dhabi the podium offers US$ 150.000, being US$ 5.000 to the gold, US$ 3.000 for silver and US$ 1.500 for each of the 14 weight divisions.
Another US$ 50.000 were added to promote the beautiful judo. The judoka who wins the last three contests by ippon will be eligible to share US$ 20.000 (all the one who do this will share this prize) and US$ 30.000 will be given to the best ranked athlete in each category after the Grand Prix.
Top international judoka, incluiding world and Olympic champions, confirmed their participation such as world champion and world ranking leader Georgiy Zantaraya (UKR, 60kg), Ludwing Pasicher (AUT, 60kg, olympic and world medalist and 3rd in the WRL), Rishod Sobirov (UZB, 60kg, olympic medalist and 5th in the WRL), Dirk Van Tichelt (BEL, 73kg, world medalist and 2nd in the WRL), Flavio Canto (BRA, olympic medalist), Guillaume Elmont (NED, 81kg, world champion), Hesham Mesbah (EGY, 90, olympic and world medalist), Ramadan Darwish (EGY, 100kg, world medalist and 3rd in the WRL), Abdulo Tangriev (UZB, +100kg, olympic and world medalist), Ilse Heylen (BEL, 52kg, olympic medalist), Giulia Quintavale (ITA, 57kg, olympic champion), Gevrise Emane (FRA, 63kg, world medalist), Sabrina Filzmozer (AUT, world medalist), Anett Meszaros (HUN, 70kg, world medalist), Celine Lebrun (FRA, 78kg, world and olympic medalist and WRL leader), Esther San Miguel (78kg, ESP, world medalist) and Maryna Pryshchepa (UKR, 78kg, world medalist and 3rd in the WRL).
For online results and TV check www.ijf.org
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