Kenya to host African Judo Cadet and Junior championships in Nairobi
CAPTION: South Africa arrives for the African Judo Championships that starts in Nairobi on Thursday at the Moi Stadium, Kasarani gymnasium.PHOTO/COURTESY
By Ochiericks
Kenya will on Thursday host the African Cadet and Junior Judo Championships at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi that will also act as qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
A total of 69 judokas from 12 countries will battle in the Cadet category whose individual contest is set for Thursday and team battle a day after.
The junior category has attracted 116 judokas from 16 countries that will compete for individual and team crowns on Saturday and Sunday in that order.
The junior contest also serves as a precursor to the 2022 Conakry Junior African Cup set for September 25 in Guinea.
“As a country we are so proud and grateful to have gotten this opportunity for the first time to host these championships here in Nairobi, I welcome all participants to this great Safari country.
“As a federation, we are confident to grow this sport to greater heights that will help to achieve its goals and objectives,” Kenya Judo Association (KJA) President Shadrack Maluki said
In the cadet category, women will fight for honours in the -40kg, -44kg, -48kg -52kg, -57kg, -63kg, -70kg and +70kg classifications while the men will battle for titles in the -50kg, -55kg, -60kg ; -66kg, -73kg- 81kg, -90kg and +90kg groups.
Junior women will compete -48kg, -52kg,-57kg, -63kg, -70kg, -78kg and +78 kg categories while junior men will engage in -60kg, -66kg -73kg, -81kg, -90kg, -100kg and +100 kg contests.
“Awarding Kenya the rights to host the Cadets and Junior championships shows all the outstanding efforts the country has put in place to develop the game in recent years,” African Judo Union (AJU) President Randrianasolo Niaiko.
Apart from Kenya, other participants in the continental showpieces are from South Africa, Egypt, Madagascar, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Angola, Botswana, Uganda, Algeria, Guinea, Zambia, and the Comoros Islands.
Countries are allowed to enter up to nine participants in each weight category in both men and women contests.
“The doping control during the championships will include four men and four women chosen by random selection from the medal winners,” the AJU stated.
“The competitions mean a lot for Kenya and I believe they will open many other opportunities for the country.
“We appreciate all the efforts the government has made to develop the sport. These championships wouldn’t have materialized without support from the state,” said Maluki.
Maluki believes staging the events will open doors for Kenya to host major competitions including the Grand Slams and the Grand Prix.
“Clearly, Kenya has come of age and we are liaising closely with the government with our sights firmly set on the two major championships,” Maluki said. The Paris 2022 Grand Slam was hosted in February, where 285 judokas drawn from 52 countries took part. International Judo Federation (IJF) Vice President Randrianasolo Niako-Siteney is already in the country to flag off the event. Siteney is a Member of Parliament in Madagascar and doubles up as the official opposition leader.
UTILITIES
Thursday programme
10am – 3 pm: Eliminations / Repechage / Semi finals
3pm: Opening ceremony
4pm-5:30pm: Bronze and finals
