UAE attracts record entries for World Judo in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI, 18 May (BelTA — Emirates News Agency) — A record 682 judokas
from 110 countries will be seen in action at the Abu Dhabi World
Championships Seniors 2024 Individuals and Mixed Teams to be held in Abu
Dhabi from 19th to 24th May.
Organised by the International Judo
Federation in coordination with the UAE Judo Federation, the week-long
competition witnessed last-minute registrations coming in from all parts
of the world, with the number of athletes standing at 682 from 110
countries.
Of these, 362 will be men and another 320 will be
women participating in seven different weight categories each, all vying
for a share of the 1 million Euros total prize money.
In Abu
Dhabi, the women will compete in the -48 kg, -52 kg, -57 kg, -63 kg, -70
kg, -78 kg and +78 kg weight categories, while the men will be in
action in the -60 kg, -66 kg, -73 kg, -81 kg, -90 kg, -100 kg and +100
kg weight categories.
The UAE national team will be among the
leading favourites along with strong contenders from France, Japan,
Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Bahrain, Algeria and
Tunisia.
The World Championships in Abu Dhabi will host one of
the legends of the sport of Judo, Frenchman Teddy Riner, who holds the
distinction being the youngest and the oldest world champion.
Other
prominent world champions who will be seen in action include Yang
Yung-wei of Taiwan (-60kg), Matthias Casse of Belgium (-81kg),
Tajikistan’s Temur Rakhimov (+100 kg), all in the men’s competition.
Confirmed
so far in the women’s categories are Italy’s Assunta Scutto (-48kg),
the Canadian duo of Christa Deguchi (-57kg) and Catherine
Beauchemin-Pinard (-48kg) and Croatia’s Barbara Matic (-70kg).
Mohammed
bin Tha’aloob Saleem Al Darie, President of the UAE Judo Federation and
Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee, was thrilled with the
overwhelming response to the competition that has given the UAE a new
certificate of excellence in hosting international sporting events.
“The
overwhelming response to the registration till the final hours of
deadline reflects the keenness of all countries and players to
participate in the competition. Not only have we been able to attract a
record 110 countries, we have also managed to have most of the former
and current world champions lining up for a slice of the action in Abu
Dhabi,” he added.
The draw of lots will take place on Saturday
(18th May), while the individual competitions will get under way from
Sunday and go on till 23rd May. The final day of the championships (24th
May) will be dedicated for the Mixed Teams competitions.
