A large British delegation is heading out to France next month to be a part of the huge Paris Grand Slam buzz.

Organised since 1971 in many forms varying from the international tournament of the Tournoi de Paris, to A-tournament, Super A-tournament and now Grand Slam, it is still one of the most prestigious tournaments on the world judo circuit.

As tradition has built over the years, the French Judo Federation continue to stage a spectacular event that attracts the World’s best and capacity crowds to watch them, as well as showcasing it live on French TV.

Four players have been selected to compete in the event, and Performance Director Margaret Hicks has taken the “opportunity for a larger group of players to train in Paris with some of the best opposition in the world for the training week that follows the Grand Slam.” 

Commenting on the small selection Hicks said, “We have a small group of elite women who will compete at the Paris Grand Slam, following medals and top five places in tournaments such as the Korea World Cup and Tokyo Grand Slam at the end of last year. 

“We have a mixture of experience and youth in this group and we hope to see some further performances during this first Grand Slam of 2011.

“For the men this event is too early within their programme and some players will be competing later in the World Cups and the German Grand Prix during the next two months.”

Selected to represent Great Britain is Gemma Howell (-57kg), Gemma Gibbons (-70kg) Karina Bryant (+78kg) and Sarah Adlington (+78kg).

Bryant, who reached her 20th major Championships medal last year with a bronze at the 2010 European Championships, has won two bronze medals at the Paris event before but is yet to capture a medal under the new Grand Slam status. With a 5th place finish at the 2010 Paris Grand Slam, the +78kg fighter will be one to watch on the French stage.

Fast rising judoka and fellow +78kg fighter, Sarah Adlington has been making her mark on the circuit, winning four World Cup medals and three European Cup medals last year.

Gemma Gibbons ended 2010 on a high with a bronze medal at the Korean World Cup, adding to her silver medal at the 2010 GB World Cup that she won in front of a home crowd in Birmingham in October.

Gemma Howell is the youngest member of the team at just 20-years-old and impressed at the Paris event in 2009 when she took a 5th place and her profile has been growing since.

Proving she is handling the transition from junior to senior well, the Brit finished in 7th place at the 2010 Senior World Championships and won a bronze medal at the U23 European Championships.

The tournament is one of only four Grand Slams on the International Judo Federation’s calendar, joining Moscow, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo and there are 300 ranking points up for grabs for winning a gold medal.

© Mike Varey

Gemma Gibbons at the 2010 GB World Cup