President of the Ukrainian Judo Federation Mykhailo Koshliak, in an exclusive comment to Sport RBC.UA, identified the athletes the national team is counting on most during the Olympic cycle leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Games. According to him, the country has several experienced judokas with a real chance to qualify for the Olympics, as well as a generation of young athletes shaping the team's foundation for the next cycle.
Main contenders for Olympic success
First and foremost, Koshliak named Dilshot Khalmatov, who has already competed in the Paris Olympics and, according to the federation president, has the potential to reach the 2028 Games. Second on the list of leaders is Anton Savytskiy, who, according to Koshliak, "is showing better and better judo over the years" and is currently in the top 10 of the world rankings. The third key candidate mentioned is Yuliia Kurchenko, familiar with the taste of victory at World Series tournaments, although she is currently recovering from an injury and preparing to return to the tatami. Koshliak emphasized that the federation places the highest hopes on these three athletes, while acknowledging that the list is not yet final.
The fight for Olympic licenses
In addition to the "main" candidates, the federation president listed a group of judokas who will compete for Olympic licenses. According to him, Artem Lesiuk is currently demonstrating good fighting spirit, experienced Yakov Khammo is returning to his usual form, and there is potential in Khalidov, Kolobov, Svidrak, and Balevskyi. According to Koshliak's assessment, these athletes will form the main group of candidates for spots in Los Angeles during the qualification period.
Youth as the pillar of the next cycle
Koshliak also focused on young athletes expected to perform in the next Olympic cycle. This year, according to him, Kharkiv natives Danylo Kravchenko and Khazar Heydarov became European junior and cadet champions. The latter will also represent Ukraine at the IV Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. The federation president noted that the country has won medals at the world cadet championships and had success at the continental level, which allows them to "look to the future with optimism."
Qualification in wartime conditions
The 2028 Olympic Games will take place in Los Angeles, and the qualification period that has begun will be yet another challenge for Ukrainian judokas under the conditions of a full-scale war. The path to the Games will require not only sporting endurance but also organizational resilience, and the national team's roster, according to Koshliak, will continue to be adjusted as qualification events take place. In this context, the potential return of Daria Bilodid to the national team is also being discussed in the media, which could further strengthen the team's composition before the cycle's key events.
