Scotland Ready For The Worlds

Tomorrow the World Judo Championships starts in Tokyo, Japan.   Kimberly Renicks -48kg, Sarah Clark -63kg, Sally Conway -70kg, Sarah Adlington +78kg, James Millar -60kg, Euan Burton -81kg and James Austin -100kg will be representing GB out of a 20 person squad. 

The Seven team members all train out of Judo Scotland's National Centre at Ratho under sportscotland’s institute of sport high performance judo coach, David Somerville. David said of the announcement: "I am very pleased for the athletes selected and all of them should be proud of their achievement.

"Moving towards 2012, it is now important players demonstrate the ability to produce world-class performances on the world stage."

In the meantime, the city itself is getting ready for the show as many events take place all over Tokyo. The famous Hachiko, the faithful dog, who is  as well know as the Manneken Pis in Brussels, Belgium, was dressed up for the very first time in history, in a judogi.  The statue, donning its new outfit, was officially inaugurated by judo champion Kosei Inoue. In the same spirit, a giant judogi, the largest in the world, with the competition logo on it, was presented to the public.

The competition has not started yet but the atmosphere is warming up. Everybody is greatly anticipating the first matches while the athletes prepare themselves for tomorrow with the goal of bringing home a medal. 

Competition schedule:

• Wednesday September 8th: Official Draw and Press Conference at the Hilton Hotel, Shinjuku district, Tokyo

• Thursday September 9th: Men's over 100kg and under 100kg. Women over 78kg and under 78kg (beginning at 10:00 am - Final block at 5:30 pm at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium)

James Austin men’s -100kg and Sarah Adlington women’s +78kg will fight.

• Friday September 10th: Men's under 90kg and under 81kg.  Women under 70kg (beginning at 10:00 am - Final block at 5:30 pm at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium)

Euan Burton men’s -81kg and Sally Conway -70kg will fight.

• Saturday September 11th: Men's under 73kg.  Women under 63kg and under 57kg (beginning at 10:00 am - Final block at 5:30 pm at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium) At 4:00 pm the draw of the Open category will take place.

Sarah Clark women’s -63kg will fight

• Sunday September 12th: Men's under 66kg and under 60kg.  Women under 52kg and under 48kg (beginning at 9:00 am - Final block at 5:00 pm at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium)

James Millar men’s -60kg and Kimberly Renicks womes’s -48kg will fight

• Monday September 13th: Men's and Women's Open Category (beginning at 2:00 pm - Final block at 5:30 pm at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium)

Good luck to Kimberly Renicks, Sarah Clark, Sally Conway, Sarah Adlington, James Millar, Euan Burton and James Austin.  To follow their progress       CLICK HERE