A good showing for Lowveld judokas in recent tourney
Mbombela was well represented and the club claimed fourth place at the tournament.
The Oewersig Community Hall in Mbombela set the scene for the Nelspruit Judo Open Tournament last Friday. Judoka from across South Africa competed against each other in the “gentle way”. The sport involves a number of pins, chokes and joint-locks, which the competitors used to good effect.
Nelspruit and White River Judo Club hosted the tournament, supported by Ekhurhuleni. The weigh-in across all divisions started at 10:00 in the boys’, men’s, girls’ and women’s categories and after the rules were explained, participants took to the mats to compete. The competition format was a losers’ pool and round-robin, with five or less entrants from each club.
The age groups were divided into senior men and women and junior men and women between 18 to 20 years old. The cadets (boys and girls) included the 13- and 14-year age groups, while the boys and girls group ranged from six to 12 years old.
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Mbombela was well represented in the tournament and Nelspruit Judo Club’s head coach, Thinus van Tonder said, “The club also did well at the SAs in Johannesburg, taking two silver and two bronze medals. The club claimed fourth place at the tournament.”
“Included in the number of notable performances were Johannes Moolman in the masters 100+ kilogram in the 40 to 45 age range, who achieved a silver.
André Visagie also excelled in the 100+ kilogram weight division, scooping a silver as well. Franco Neuhoff, Jaun Snymann and Andreas Visagie also impressed in the boys division, with Waldo Moolman taking a respectable fourth place.
East Gauteng.
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The martial art and Olympic sport proved to be more than just grappling. A number of intricate holds, locks and submission moves all form part of an arsenal of moves which, if used effectively, landed judoka a number of well-earned points.
At the conclusion of the weekend tournament, Carmi Bagenda earned a gold medal, Alberto Moshikaru, a bronze and Jetro Lukau and Enoch Kasani a silver and gold respectively.
Jaun Snyman scooped gold in the boys 14 years category and Marco Prinsloo a silver. In the 17-year-old, under 55 kilogram division, Rudi Rohm achieved gold and Phillip Pretorius silver. Byron Grobler and Charl Burger earned themselves a gold and silver medal respectively in the senior category
