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16 Judokas from Turkmenistan to Compete in the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam in Mongolia

18 Jun. 03:20

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A delegation of 16 judokas from Turkmenistan will participate in the prestigious Grand Slam international tournament, scheduled to take place from June 19 to 21 in the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar. The news was officially announced on the website of the International Judo Federation (IJF).

The national team selection features the country's top-tier competitors, including Serdar Rahymow (up to 66 kg) and Maisa Pardayeva (up to 57 kg), both of whom represented Turkmenistan at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In total, the high-profile tournament in Mongolia will welcome 455 elite judokas representing 59 nations from around the world.

Alongside Serdar Rahymow, the men's national roster includes Mekan Remezanow and Ural Bagtyyarow (up to 60 kg), Meylis Shamyradow and Yolaman Amansahedow (up to 73 kg), Agajan Ayhanow and Batyr Merdanow (up to 81 kg), Omurzak Halmuminow (up to 90 kg), Baymyrat Majanow and Deniz Karatayew (up to 100 kg).

The women's squad features Ejegyz Geldiyewa (up to 48 kg), Narjemal Omirowa (up to 52 kg), Maisa Pardayeva and Medine Oraznyyazowa (up to 57 kg), Yyldyz Myradowa and Oguljan Ruslanowa (up to 70 kg).

The Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam marks the official starting line for the next Olympic qualification cycle ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Ranking points within the IJF World Tour will be distributed based on performance: tournament champions will earn 1,000 points, silver medalists will secure 700 points, and bronze medalists will claim 500 points. The top 18 judokas in the world rankings for each weight class will earn a direct ticket to the Olympics (limited to one athlete per nation per weight class), with subsequent spots awarded via continental quotas.

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Financial Disagreements Derail Anticipated Heavyweight Bout Between Usyk and Wilder

Today in 04:59

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The highly anticipated heavyweight showdown between former undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk and former WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder has officially been canceled. Both camps had initially aimed to stage the blockbuster bout in the spring of 2027, generating immense excitement among boxing enthusiasts worldwide. However, negotiations between the prominent boxing stars ultimately collapsed behind closed doors.

According to prominent sports journalist Mike Coppinger and insider sources, the breakdown in talks stemmed directly from unresolved financial disputes and disagreements over purse splits. Negotiations were reportedly halted roughly three weeks ago after both sides failed to reach a mutually beneficial commercial agreement. As a result, the Ukrainian champion is currently left without a scheduled opponent, and his promotional team is not actively engaged in talks for an alternative match.

Meanwhile, rumors have surfaced regarding Deontay Wilder's potential next steps inside the squared circle. Reports indicate that Wilder has reached out to cruiserweight standout Jai Opetaia, attempting to entice him into a December 11 fight card. Speculation suggests Wilder hopes to position this high-profile matchup as a co-feature ahead of the eagerly awaited heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

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