Oberan’s Response, Heydarov’s New Weight and a Tight European Battle in Qingdao

Day two at the Qingdao Grand Prix 2026 brings a strong Judo lineup, with Iva Oberan, Hidayat Heydarov and several other contenders stepping into matches that already matter in the Olympic qualification race. With World Ranking List points on the line, the pressure is rising fast and so is the sense that one result can change the mood of a season.

For European fans, the women’s -63 kg category stands out immediately. Croatia’s Iva Oberan arrives as the top seed and as world number five, carrying both strong recent results and something to prove. She won bronze at the Tbilisi Grand Slam and at the European Championships in April, but her last outing in Ulaanbaatar ended outside the medals.

That makes Qingdao an important moment rather than just another stop on the calendar. Oberan has the level to answer quickly, but this draw offers no easy route back. Austria’s Lubjana Piovesana, who took bronze in both Dushanbe and Ulaanbaatar, is again in the mix, while Kosovo’s Laura Fazliu brings the kind of consistency that keeps her dangerous in every event. Poland’s Angelika Szymanska adds even more depth with a long record of medals at grand slam and grand prix level.

The -63 kg field could become one of day two’s toughest tests.

In the women’s -70 kg division, another Croatian name deserves close attention. Lara Cvjetko comes in after taking bronze in Mongolia and already owns two world silver medals, a record that underlines her ability to stay in the fight at major events. She is one of the European athletes with a real chance to push deep into the day.

She will be measured against a field led by Aoife Coughlan of Australia, who arrives after silver in Ulaanbaatar and is chasing another World Judo Tour gold medal. Switzerland’s April Lynn Fohouo is also one to watch after becoming junior world champion in 2025, and Germany’s Miriam Butkereit will be motivated after narrowly missing bronze in Ulaanbaatar.

The men’s -81 kg category may deliver the sharpest turning point of the day. Hidayat Heydarov of Azerbaijan is set for his debut in the higher weight class, and that alone changes the feel of the draw. If the bracket develops as expected, Canada’s François Gauthier-Drapeau could face the Olympic champion as early as the round of sixteen, a matchup that would instantly become one of the day’s headline contests.

There is more European interest lower in the draw. Belgium’s Mathias Casse, a world champion and Olympic medallist, is in the same section as Azerbaijan’s Zelim Tckaev, creating the possibility of a major clash before the final rounds. Finland’s Eetu Ihanamaki also continues to build his place in a very deep category and should not be ignored.

Heydarov’s move up in weight adds real suspense to -81 kg.

Elsewhere, the men’s -73 kg division gives Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov of the UAE a chance to recover after an unplaced finish in Ulaanbaatar, despite his strong start to the year in Paris. But the clearest European storyline on day two remains the same: proven names such as Oberan, Cvjetko and Casse are entering key contests at a moment when every ranking point feels heavier.

That is why Qingdao matters. It is not only about medals this weekend, but about momentum, recovery and who can keep calm when the road to Los Angeles starts to tighten.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation