The name of Toma Nikiforov disappeared on Friday from the entry list for the Tel Aviv Grand Slam, which will take place from February 17 to 19. Information taken from his trainer, Damiano Martinuzzi, the Brussels resident suffers from an elbow and prefers not to take any risks for the rest of his season.
“Toma will accompany the team and will participate in the training camp which will follow the competition, but he will not fight!” explains the coach of the new world n°4 in -100 kg. “And he will be present for the warm-up for Matthias, just to return the favor after the crazy day in Paris they spent together.”
The world champion was, in fact, alongside the … European champion, last Sunday, to prepare the fights, four in number, against the Mongol Batkhuyag, the Swiss Eich, the Japanese Iida and, in the final, the ‘Israeli Palchik. A hearty menu, swallowed with a huge desire by Toma.
But he left his mark with a minor injury to his elbow.
“With all the background, Toma’s body obviously needs a bit more rest at times. And since there is no obligation to fight, we prefer to pass Tel Aviv and wait for Antalya, at the beginning of April, the main objective being the Euro at the end of April-beginning of May, in Sofia. You know why…”
Seven Belgians are registered in Tel Aviv, namely: Jorre Verstraeten (-60 kg), Matthias Casse and Sami Chouchi (-81 kg), men’s side; Ellen Salens and Loïs Petit (-48 kg), Amber Ryheul (-52 kg) as well as Mina Libeer (-57 kg).
