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GB Judo team need resurgence ahead of Olympics

GB Judo team need resurgence ahead of Olympics

22 Nov 2019 11:30
IJF Emanuele Di Feliciantonio / International Judo Federation

There's a huge year in the pipeline for British sport, as 2020 will see another Olympic Games roll around, with this latest instalment of the summer event being staged in Tokyo, Japan. All eyes will be focused on The Land of the Rising Sun, where many hopeful British athletes from all corners of the country will continue their respective journeys towards desired medal success in the latest Games.

Only single Bronze at 2019 World Judo Championships

That includes Great Britain's judo team, who have had to endure some ups and downs in recent times, due to the results of some events in the build-up to the Olympics. The games themselves are scheduled to kick off on Friday, July 24th and conclude on August 9th.

There are plenty of hopes and high expectations of those involved in the judo selection for Team GB but a recent lack of form and fortunes at the 2019 World Judo Championships left a lot to be desired and much more will be required if medals are to be gained next summer.

Held from August to the start of September, Team GB managed only one medal from the tournament in Tokyo, where the squad will return next year with the hope of better performances overall.

Of the 25 nations involved, Great Britain were in the bottom pack of victors with their single Bronze medal win. They finished alongside Germany, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Serbia, and Turkey in ending proceedings with one single podium place.

It was Scotland's Sally Conway that had her hand raised for that Bronze victory, having overcome Austria's Michaela Polleres to earn her first-ever World medal in the -70kg category. This third-place win meant that Conway has now won a medal at all major championships, after already making Olympic, European, and Commonwealth podiums beforehand.

Although, on a brighter note, there was a lot to say about the success of the Under-18 team at the recent Commonwealth Championships in Walsall at the end of the month. Who knows, we might see some rising stars pop up on our radar in the not-so-distant future.

Medal success in Brasilia Grand Slam

While the showings at the Worlds were less than impressive, Conway's performances coupled with some more encouraging outings at the Brasilia Grand Slam make for more promising reading for Team GB before next year.

Host nation Brazil were the dominant force at the event, superbly clinching no less than 17 medals on home soil, which is more than they won in four Grand Slams combined last year. Team GB finished in a respectable third position in total, just behind Japan in second.

Consistency is key here, and building confidence and momentum ahead of next year's Olympic Games will be crucial if they are to go on and secure podiums on their Japanese ventures.

Brazil have laid the benchmark, and the GB representatives could do well in studying their rivals' recent success for a blueprint on how to get the job done in the coming months.

Improvements required ahead of Olympics bid

Funding is the issue that is always brought to light when a certain sport is seemingly in decline or a team isn't performing as well as they have previously.

The judo squad clearly have the talent and desire to do well next summer but, as is the case with any of the other sports in question, financial backing from the sporting hierarchy is obviously an important factor.

It's evident that Team GB have focused on other sports of late, with targeted funding leading to great success on fronts such as rowing and cycling. With an available financial boost comes subsequent success, clearly.

Team GB focus elsewhere?

Although, with regards to cycling, a sport in which Great Britain is doing brilliantly in once again at the top levels, its funding does relate heavily to Team Ineos - formerly known as Team Sky - as well.

Ineos has stars such as Chris Froome, a four-time Tour de France stage winner and already a huge name in the eyes of the nation. As of October 14th, Froome is currently regarded as the 7/2 second-favourite in the cycling odds to win the 2020 Tour de France, behind Egan Bernal (100/30), and ahead of Primoz Roglic (5/1) and Thibaut Pinot (11/2).

The judo side's top names like Sally Conway, Natalie Powell, and Ashley McKenzie, to name a few, will be aiming to bolster their reputations back home and across the circuit even further in the lead up to what will hopefully be a successful Olympic Games for Team GB.

Recent showings may not have been the most impressive at what is becoming a crucial time before a massive 2020 for the squad, but there have been more promising signs of late. As it stands, their form looks likely to be turned around on time for a strong push in Tokyo.

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