Korean judo team wanted sparring partner

South Korea has received several requests from other nations to become their training partner in judo for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics, an official from the sport's national governing body said. Among the countries in the running, the Netherlands and Georgia are considered competitive judo nations.

An official from the Korea Judo Association (KJA) said South Korea has so far received proposals from the Netherlands, Georgia, Greece, Slovakia, Egypt and Algeria asking for joint training sessions with their national judo teams before heading to Brazil. The official said the KJA is trying to select the right candidate to help boost South Korea's own performance.

"As the opening of the Rio Games is approaching, countries in Europe and Africa are making offers to train with our national team here in South Korea," said the KJA official, asking not to be named. "This shows South Korea is a judo powerhouse."

The KJA said that it will soon discuss the matter with the national team coaching staff to select a training partner that can help improve Korean judokas' performances.

Dutch offer

The Dutch have collected four gold, two silver and 16 bronze medals in judo at the Olympics, seventh overall in the medal count. Georgian judokas have won three gold, a silver and two bronze medals in judo at the Summer Games to rank 13th overall.

South Koreans are No. 3 in the Olympic judo medal rankings with 11 gold, 14 silver and 15 bronze medals. Japan, which has 34 gold, 18 silver and 18 bronze medals, and France, with 12 gold, 14 silver and 24 bronze medals, are the top two nations in Olympic judo.

In Brazil, South Korea expects at least two gold medals from judo. There are a total of 14 gold medals -- seven each for men and women -- up for grabs. The country has claimed at least one judo gold medal in each of the past three Olympics.

South Korea, in particular, pins high hopes on the men's side as four judokas are ranked No. 1 in their divisions. They are: Kim Won-Jin in 60kg, An Ba-Ul in 66kg, An Chang-rim in 73kg and Gwak Dong-Han in 90kg. On the women's side, Kim Jan-Di in 57kg is looking for a podium finish. She is ranked No. 3 in the world.

"Although I'm ranked No. 1 in the world, I think my skills are not at the top of the world," Gwak said. "There is pressure, but regardless, I will go for the gold medal."