Although Olympics qualification events end after the World Judo Masters in Guadalajara, Mexico, from 27-29 May, the ranking list of top world judokas in different weight categories reveals validation of three berths for the Iranian squad.
On the basis of the International Judo Federation (IJF) regulations, the top 22 men and top 14 women from the world rankings in each division must directly qualify for judo at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Further continental quotas are also subjected to an overall limit to one judoka per NOC and two judokas per division from each continent.
Accordingly, Iran’s Saeid Molaei (640 points), Javad Mahjoub (783 points) have landed 20th and 21st respectively in the latest World Ranking List announced by IJF on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, Alireza Khojasteh at -66kg weight class managed to bag an Asian silver and 240 points to snare an Olympic berth in the continental quotas.
Javad Mahjoub claimed a bronze medal at the Judo Grand Prix 2016 which was held at the Sport Palace Baluan Sholak in Almaty of Kazakhstan May 13-14.
In the -100kg weight category, Mahjoub defeated Jason Koster from New Zealand in his first match but conceded a defeat against his Brazilian rival Rafael Buzacarini.
The Iranian judoka beat Anis Ben Khaled from Tunisia in his repechage and overcame Hungarian Miklos Cirjenics in the bronze medal match.
The competition had brought together 399 judokas from 84 nations.
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