This Friday, Portugal will start competing in the European Judo Championships with its eyes on medals and Olympic qualification for Paris 2024, by gaining ranking points. Among those chosen are several athletes with legitimate ambitions, including Rochele Nunes, Jorge Fonseca, Bárbara Timo, Patrícia Sampaio, Catarina Costa and Telma Monteiro, the last winner of 15 of the total 39 Portuguese medals won in this competition.
“It is a heterogeneous team in terms of experience. Above all, the first point is to try to score in what is the ultimate goal, the Olympic Games. Then, with regard to the European Championship, we have here athletes who are competitive, who can do that in a good day, each of them can progress in your team and be close to the medal discussion locations,” said Marco Morais, women’s judo coach, speaking to the Lusa agency.
Telma Monteiro arrives at this event with the record for the female judoka with the most medals at the Europeans (15, six gold, two silver and seven bronze), and at the age of 37 is in the Olympic qualifying phase. “If she gets the opportunity, I am absolutely certain she will grab it tooth and nail because she is one of the most competitive athletes I have ever seen. I have never seen her drag on a mat, and I think her participation will be in the same way as it was probably his first, in terms of ambition,” said the coach.
Rochele Nunes is also aiming for a medal, who will be present at her fourth European Championship and recently made a good impression by winning gold at the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi. “Because I am in a good phase, I think I have full confidence to become European champion. It’s just enough to have a good day. I have been competing much calmer and I no longer see this confidence in the results.” As a negative side, I don’t see it as pressure, on the contrary. I see myself as a favorite for something very positive,” the Benfica athlete, born in Pelotas, Brazil, told Lusa.
Morais acknowledges that Patrícia Sampaio, despite medals in Grand Prix and Grand Slam, misses the podium in major events, but for this it is necessary that the judoka is well in terms of injuries, which have been her biggest opponents.
Points for Paris 2024
For Pedro Soares, men’s coach, the objectives of this European Championship are broader than the continental competition. “We had Abu Dhabi less than a week ago and we are already going to compete in the European Championships, which should be one of the most important events on this year’s calendar, but the quest for Olympic qualification takes away that weight and does not make it easier.” it is one of the most important objectives of the season.”, emphasized the technician.
The coach recalled that a European title gives 700 points in Olympic qualification, which already count for 100%, but that a Grand Slam, and if there are many on the circuit, is equivalent to 1000 points in case of victory. A scenario that forces Portuguese male judokas – only Jorge Fonseca and João Fernando, the last in the continental spot, are in the eligible zone for Paris2024 – to chase the points that will allow them to rise in the rankings.
“That is why we have to make choices here and the option, as is clear, is to qualify well for the Olympic Games,” explains Pedro Soares, adding that the athletes are aware of this.
In Montpellier, the selector believes he has a group at different levels with five male judokas – João Fernando, Jorge Fonseca, plus Rodrigo Lopes (-60 kg), Thelmo Gomes (-73 kg) and Anri Egutidze (-81 kg): ” It is a heterogeneous selection because there are younger athletes, some older, some who are in better shape than others. And it also depends a lot on whether the draw allows us to progress further or not.”
The Europeans will take place between tomorrow and Sunday at the Sud de France Arena in Montpellier, with the first day dedicated to the lighter categories, with Catarina Costa, Raquel Brito, Maria Siderot, Joana Diogo, Telma Monteiro and Rodrigo Lopes, the second for the intermediates , with Bárbara Timo, Joana Crisóstomo, Thelmo Gomes, Anri Egutidze and João Fernando, and the last of the toughest, with Patrícia Sampaio, Rochele Nunes and Jorge Fonseca.
Besides Telma Monteiro, Catarina Costa (one silver, 2022), Rochele Nunes (two bronze, 2020 and 2021), Bárbara Timo (one bronze, 2021) and Jorge Fonseca (one bronze, 2020) are the only Portuguese present are in the competition who have experience with medals at European Championships.
Source: DN
