Member News

March 17, 2006

New York Open to be Held at the New York Athletic Club This Weekend

More than 150 top male judo players will be competing at the New York Open, a USA Judo Senior C Level event, March 18 at the New York Athletic Club.

This elite men’s tournament is known for drawing not only most of the top U.S. athletes, but also a top-level international field where these athletes will compete not only for title and prestige, but also for a $7,000 purse that will be divided equally among the seven weight division winners (Olympic weights from 60kg -- +100kg).

For the first time in New York Open history, the gold and bronze medal final matches will be available for viewing via Webcast on-demand on March 21 at www.livesportsvideo.com. 

This year’s field is expected to include athletes from more than 20 countries including Poland, Ukraine, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Slovakia, Israel and Uzbekistan. 

International athletes scheduled to compete include:

• Gonzalo Ibanez (CAN/60kg), 2005 British Open silver medalist and three-time New York Open medalist
• Maria Marian (ROM/60kg), 2004 Romania World Cup silver medalist and four-time New York Open medalist
• Genadiy Bilodid (UKR/73kg), 2005 World bronze medalist and six-time World Cup Champion
• Klemen Ferjan (SVK/81kg), 2005 Prague World Cup bronze medalist
• Valentin Grekov (UKR/90kg), five-time World Cup Champion, two-time European Champion, 2003 New York Open silver medalist
• Ruslan Mashurenko (UKR/100kg), 1996 Olympic silver medalist, 11-time World Cup medalist and 2004 New York Open Champion

Top-ranked U.S. athletes scheduled to compete include:

• Taraje Williams-Murray (Brooklyn, N.Y./NYAC/Spartak), 2004 Olympian, and New York Open Champion, 2005 World Team member
• Taylor Takata (Harlingen, Texas/Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site), two-time World Team member, 2003 New York Open Champion
• Aaron Cohen (Buffalo Grove, Ill./NYAC/Cohen’s Judo/81kg), 2005 World Team member, two-time Pan American medalist and 2003 New York Open Champion
• Kirk Hoffmann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site/+100kg), 2005 World Team member and Pan American bronze medalist

Following the competition, a one-day training camp will be conducted by Jimmy Pedro (Methuen, Mass.), 1999 World Champion and two-time Olympic medalist for both male and female competitors.

Visit www.usjudo.org for event photos and complete tournament results.