Star judoka all psyched up for Commonwealth Games
On the eve of the Commonwealth Games, local judokas are frustrated with the fact that due to financial implications they probably did not get enough international exposure in preparation for this challenge.
A lot can happen in seven days. Ask Michaela Whitebooi, and she will tell you she has won her first fight at a Grand Slam Judo Tournament, which helped improve her international ranking by five positions.
The Tuks judoka is ranked 28th in the women’s under-48kg category after beating Gulnur Marathaeva (Uzbekistan) in Mongolia recently. As things stand, Whitebooi will be the top-ranked judoka in her category during the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Still, Whitebooi is frustrated by the few opportunities to participate at top level. She knows she can beat the best in the world if she gets to compete more often internationally. Unfortunately, it is not happening due to the financial implications of international travel.
The Grand Slam Tournament in Mongolia will, in all probability, be the only opportunity she gets to compete internationally before the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Her coach, Nikola Filipov, gets quite emotional when talking about it.
“Michaela is good enough to win gold in the women’s under-48kg category during the Games. To do so, she must be taken out of her comfort zone. That is why I would have loved to have her fight at least once more before the Games. To base her at an international training camp in Bulgaria or Germany would also have helped,” he explained.
According to Filipov, the same goes for Charne Griessel, who fights in the under-52kg category and Thomas Breytenbach, who competes in the under-90kg category. Even Donne Breytenbach (under-57kg) is seldom tested during training.
“Charne has spent nearly R100 000 of her own money to prepare for the Games. And she never complains as she knows why she is doing so. She wants to medal in Birmingham. And she can win at least a silver medal,” Filipov remarked.
Tuks’ judokas impressed during the recent South African Championships in Gqerberha winning 14 gold medals, three silver medals and nine bronze.
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