British Judo Association

ParalympicsGB name judo squad for Beijing Paralympics

ParalympicsGB has today named the four judo athletes set to represent Britain at this summer’s Paralympic Games in Beijing.

The four-strong team of Ian Rose, Ben Quilter, Darren Harris and Sam Ingram were in London today for the team announcement, which took place in conjunction with the British Olympic judo team announcement.

Britain will be represented in the -60kg category, the -66kg category, the -90kg category and the -100kg category following British performances at the 2006 and 2007 IBSA World Championships and 2007 European championships.

2008 Paralympic Judo Team - Right to Left Sam Ingram, Darren Harris, Ben Quilter and Ian Rose

This will be the fifth consecutive Paralympic Games for 35-year-old Rose, who won bronze at the Atlanta 1996 Games before going one better in Athens in 2004 and winning silver. The High Wycombe athlete continued to perform well in 2006 and 2007 winning world championship bronze in the -100kg class in 2006 before going one better in 2007 and taking world championship silver.

For the other three athletes selected this will be their first Paralympic Games. Twenty-six year-old Brighton athlete Quilter took silver at the 2007 European championships to secure Britain a place in the -60kg category at the Games.

The Chichester University student, who took up judo 18-years ago, also just missed the podium at the 2006 world championships, finishing 5 th.

Thirty-four year-old Darren Harris, who also plays a high level of blind football, will represent Britain in the -66kg category. The Bristol-based fighter, who trains at the University of Bath, won silver at the 2007 European championships to secure Britain’s Beijing berth in this weight category.

Newcomer Sam Ingram will take Britain’s final judo slot for the Paralympics competing in the -90kg category. The 22-year-old Edinburgh-based athlete impressed on his world championship debut in 2007 fighting off top competition to win silver.

Dave Sanders, British Judo’s Programme Manager leading the Visually Impaired Programme said: “Now the selection is confirmed, the players who qualified the places can concentrate on their final preparation for the Games.

“Three of the four players have not competed in a Paralympic Games before but have won numerous world and European medals between them. Ian Rose provides the experience for the team having competed in four previous Paralympics, winning silver in 2004, and bronze in 1996.

“We’re hoping that the combination of youth and experience is going to prove to be one of the most successful Paralympics for judo to date.”

ParalympicsGB Chief Executive Phil Lane, said: “Selection for the Paralympics is the culmination of years of hard work, training and competitions and these four athletes should be extremely proud of this achievement.

“From their success at world and European championships over the last few years, these four athletes have demonstrated that they have medal-winning potential so I look forward to seeing them step up to the plate in Beijing.”

The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games opens on September 6 and closes on September 17. The judo events at the Games take place at the Worker’s Indoor Arena in Beijing and will run from September 7 to 9.

At the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games Britain finished second in the medal table with a total of 35 golds, 30 silver and 29 bronze medals. With competitive standards continually rising and the dominant Chinese team taking the home advantage ParalympicsGB recognises that the 2008 Paralympics will be one of its biggest challenges yet.

For further information on the team please visit British Judo's dedicated Beijing website

For further information about ParalympicsGB, please contact Sian Davies in the Press Office on 0207 211 5240 or 07721 892686 or by email at sian.davies@paralympics.org.uk . For news updates visit the BPA website at www.paralympics.org.uk

N.B ParalympicsGB is the trading name of the British Paralympic Association.

For further information about British Judo contact Emma Griffin, Communications Director, on 01509 631 692 or 07875 368495 or on email to emma.griffin@britishjudo.org.uk