TWO Coventry martial artists have received call-ups to the British Judo squad for the forthcoming European Championships in Prague next month,
Joshua Giles and Yasmin Javadian are set to compete in the under 60kg men’s and under 52kg women’s events respectively in the Czech capital between Thursday, November 19 and Saturday, November 21, forming part of an 18-man team.
November’s Championships offer a long-awaited return to competitive action for British Judo following the coronavirus pandemic, with many hopefuls for the Paris 2024 Olympics being called up to offer a first taste of high-level competition.
Junior judoka Javadian will make her debut for the British Judo team, hoping to add further success having already claimed bronze medals at both the European Junior and U23 Championships in 2019.
Giles, meanwhile, makes his first appearance at senior level for the British team, having broken through in 2019 with a bronze at the Paks European Junior Cup – followed by outings at the European and World Junior Championships.
With a small group of the team also selected with Tokyo 2021 in mind, Performance Director at British Judo Nigel Donohue says the representation of squad members with a view to appearing in the next couple of Olympic Games was key.
“Our primary short-term focus still very much remains on the Tokyo Games, but as part of our two-cycle
strategy, we much also divert our attention to Paris 2024 as well, so this is a really exciting team
selection for British Judo,” he said.
“Firstly, because it symbolises a return to international competition after an enforced period away.
“And also, with a number of senior fighters choosing to miss these Championships in order to best prepare for the Tokyo Olympic Games next year – like we have done in the past – it has given us the opportunity to give some of our Paris 2024 hopefuls the chance to gain valuable international Championship experience both on and off the mat ahead of what is going to be a big four years for the team in chasing Olympic qualification, from 2022 onwards.”
British Judo are maintaining communications with the European Judo Union and event organisers in regards to the COVID-19 rate in Prague, with the body prepared to withdraw the team and staff from travelling to the Czech Republic should the risk be too great.
