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The World Judo Championships
kicks off
The Dutch have claimed
that this year’s World Judo Championships, which begins tomorrow,
is to be the best ever.
The 14-strong British
team that includes Euan Burton and Peter Cousins, Britain’s two
medallists from the last World Championships in 2007, were greeted
by a ‘dressed up’ Rotterdam with advertising banners across the
city. Burton and Cousins were also part of the Beijing Olympic
Team, along with Karina Bryant, Sarah Clark and Winston Gordon
who are also competing.
The Championships will
begin with the -60kg, -66kg and -48kg contests where Ashley McKenzie,
Colin Oates and Kimberley Renicks will fight.
Thursday will see Alex
Farbon, Sophie Johnstone and Sarah Clark contest the -73kg, -52kg
and -57kg weight categories respectively. Euan Burton and Faith
Pitman will take to the mat on Friday, fighting in the -81kg and
-63kg categories.
Competing on Saturday
in the -90kg weight category is Winston Gordon, Sally Conway in
the -70kg and Samantha Lowe in the -78kg.
On the final day of
competition, Peter Cousins will compete in the -100kg contest,
Matthew Clempner in the +100kg and Karina Bryant in the +78kg.
The organisers are expecting
twenty-five-thousand spectators over the five days, with the weekend
tickets sold out. Around 660 judoka from 105 countries are expected
to be competing, with no less than seven reigning Olympic champions
and nine defending World Champions to be seen on the mat.
Each day the Championships
will commence at 9.30am local time (08.30am BST) and the block
finals are due to commence at 14.00 local time (13.00 BST).
To keep up with live
results, visit www.ippon.org
or keep an eye on the British Judo facebook page www.facebook.com/britishjudo
©
David Finch
2007 World
medallist Peter Cousins
Media Contact:
Nicola Turner
British Judo
(t) 01509 631695
nicola.turner@britishjudo.org.uk
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