When: August 23-27, 2011
Where: Paris, France
More details: The yearly championships celebrates its 28th event, the final edition before the Olympic year, in which it will return in 2013.
Judo’s much-anticipated blue-riband event will as usual permit two places in each weight category for each country, but this year Head Coach Patrick Roux has been selective as the Performance Programme gears up to the 2012 Olympic Games.
After the 2011 European Championships, the Performance Directorate analysed the results and performance of all players and decided to pre-select four players.
The selection included 2010 World Championship bronze medallist, Scotland’s Euan Burton (currently ranked 6th in the World in the under 81kg weight category), Sophie Cox (U52kg) and Colin Oates (U66kg) who both secured their places on the team with a number of notable performances and results this year, which included bronze medals at the 2011 European Championships in Istanbul. The fourth player to be pre-selected was former European Champion Sarah Clark in the under 63kg weight division, who’s 2011 profile boasts a bronze medal at the Lisbon World Cup and gold at the Miami World Cup.
The rest of the team were selected against a criterion of performances and results at 2011 IJF Events.
Margaret Hicks, British Judo’s Performance Director, said: “One year out from the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games, we have selected a team of players for the 2011 World Championships who have either medalled at Olympic Qualifying tournaments, or are close to this level.
“We have had some great performances recently and we are confident going into the Championships that we have players who are capable of reaching the finals to contend for medals.
“Our players are on a positive pathway and have had an excellent preparation so far. However no-one should underestimate the challenge of the Paris Worlds, with double the amount of competitors in most weight categories, it is a tough competition like no other. The 2011 Worlds will provide a good marker ahead of next year’s Olympic Games, which of course is our main objective.”
GB team:
Under 52kg Sophie Cox Bacup Northwest BJPI
Under 57kg Gemma Howell Wolverhampton Midlands BJPI
Under 63kg Sarah Clark Edinburgh Scotland Ratho
Under 63kg Faith Pitman West Essex N.H.C BJPI
Under 70kg Sally Conway Edinburgh Scotland Ratho
Over 78kg Karina Bryant Camberley Southern BJPI
Over 78kg Sarah Adlington Edinburgh Scotland Ratho
Under 60kg Ashley McKenzie Not Stated London BJPI
Under 60kg James Millar Edinburgh Scotland Ratho
Under 66kg Colin Oates Kumo Eastern BJPI
Under 66kg Craig Fallon Hardy Spicer Midlands BJPI
Under 73kg Danny Williams Camberley Southern BJPI
Under 81kg Euan Burton Edinburgh Scotland Ratho
Under 90kg Winston Gordon Budokwai/Ernest Bevin London BJPI
Under 100kg James Austin Hardy Spicer Midlands Ratho
More info: www.britishjudo.org.uk
