The International Judo Federation (IJF) World Judo Tour competition, which will take place in the Croatian capital's Dom Sportova arena until Sunday (September 14), will be the last event on the European leg of the Tour before heading for Asia and will see some 331 judoka - 182 men and 149 women - from 46 countries competing.

"I'd like to welcome you all to Croatia and I hope the change of location will add to your experience," Sanda Corak, President of the Croatian Judo Federation, said.

"Judo really started in Croatia in 1951 here in Zagreb and it is fitting to be here for a Grand Prix.

"I want to thank the IJF and President Vizer for trusting us with this event once again and I would like to thank our sponsors and judo friends who make this Grand Prix possible.

"I wish good luck to all the competitors and the participating countries."

As well as Briton Smythe-Davis, who will be looking to secure her maiden Grand Prix medal in the women's under 57kg event alongside former world bronze medallist Vlora Bedeti of Slovenia, and men's under 66kg athlete Oates there are many other athletes to look out for at the competition.

Charline Van Snick (left) will compete in the women's under 48kg event in Zagreb ©Getty Images


Belgian London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Charline Van Snick is back in competition in the women's under 48kg after her two-year doping ban was overturned in July and will be one to watch in the weight class, which also sees two-time African champion Taciana Lima Baldé of Guinea-Bissau and Russian junior world champion Irina Dolgova competing.

Audrey Tcheuméo, a silver medallist and a member of the French gold medal winning team at last month's World Championships in Chelyabinsk, will be a strong medal contender in the women's under 78kg alongside compatriot Madeleine Malonga.

Elsewhere, hopes will be high for Slovenia's Tina Trstenjak in the women's under 63kg after her world bronze medal winning performance in Chelyabinsk and for Poland's Katarzyna Kłys, who will be the favourite in the women's under 70kg after also placing third in Russia at the World Championships.

Dex Elmont will represent The Netherlands in the under 73kg event ©Getty Images


Meanwhile, the men's competitions feature the likes of European champion Dex Elmont of The Netherlands and Russian Chelyabinsk 2014 bronze medallist Musa Mogushkov in the under 73kg event.

Hungary's world silver medallist Krisztián Tóth will compete in the under 90kg alongside Tyumen Grand Slam bronze medallist Grigory Sulemin of Russia and Baku Grand Slam silver medallist Noël Van 't End of The Netherlands, while the under 81kg sees home athlete and European silver medallist Tomislav Marijanović in action.

Finally, Australian Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jake Andrewartha will compete in the over 100kg event.

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