Pakistani judokas train for China, other events

Quetta: Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has arranged a training camp in Quetta to provide much-needed training to the country’s potential judokas to prepare for the Commonwealth Games (CWG), and Islamic Solidarity Games (ISG) and the Asian Games in China.

“The camp started on April 1 wherein around 40 judokas are getting training on the modern lines,” a spokesperson of Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) said.

The ISG will be taking place from August 9 to 18 in Konya, Turkey. Then, the Asian Games, which are also known as Asiad will take place from September 10 to 25 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

The PJF spokesperson informed that the judokas were being prepared for the three important events. “We will provide an opportunity to our talented athletes to showcase their skills and potential at the international events. Their performance will be closely monitored during the camp and those displaying top form will be selected for the important international assignments,” he added.

The spokesperson underscored that the first focus was on the Commonwealth Games, “which are slated to be held in Birmingham, UK from July 28 to August 8. We’ll try to send ten judokas six men and four women in these Games.”

He maintained that Pakistan had a bunch of highly talented judokas, who would also be given a chance to fight in the UAE Grand Slam, Japan Grand Slam and in the World Judo Championship, which is scheduled to be held in Uzbekistan later this year.