Two weeks before the start of the World Judo Championships in Doha, Qatar, today the team that will try to represent Portugal at the event at the Complexo de Piscinas do Jamor was presented. Jorge Fonseca is the big absentee due to an injury.
The squad for the Doha 2023 World Cup, which will soon travel to Qatar, will consist of judokas Catarina Costa (-48 kg), Raquel Brito (-48 kg), Maria Siderot (-52 kg), Joana Diogo (-52 kg ). kg), Telma Monteiro (-57 kg), Bárbara Timo (-63 kg), Joana Crisóstomo (-70 kg), Patrícia Sampaio (-78 kg), Rodrigo Lopes (-60 kg), João Fernando (-81 kg) and Anri Egutidze (-81 kg), and coaches Pedro Soares and Marco Morais.
Even with some important casualties, such as Jorge Fonseca (-100 kg) and Rochele Nunes (+78 kg), recovering from injuries, the Portuguese entourage keeps high expectations, in a decisive phase of qualification also for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games To play .
Coach Pedro Soares expects a good response from the judokas who will participate in the World Championships in Doha, and plays down the absentees. “Of course there are two medal contenders who will drop out, but I see everyone can achieve similar results. Even the youngest can emancipate themselves and come forward. We will not cry for those who are not. Let’s believe in those who are, because they give us a lot of hope,” said the national coach.
Despite the managerial crisis that has descended on the Portuguese Judo Federation (FPJ), since the departure of Jorge Fernandes from the presidency, the coach of the men’s team has ensured that the preparation went smoothly: “Since the beginning of January, athletes and coaches have been outlining the preparation for the World Championship, choosing the trials and stages they wanted, so I didn’t feel any external issues with the athletes.”
Telma Monteiro: “United and armored team”
The Portuguese judoka with the most medals ever, Telma Monteiro (-57 kg), acknowledged that this World Cup, in Qatar, a country where she has already competed, is not a stage like any other. “If we think about the problems [de direitos humanos] in which this country is involved, on the contrary. But my goal is to fight at the World Cup and forget about everything else. The last few months have been difficult, but the stronger the competition and opponents are, the more I believe in my abilities. Everything is possible. It is with this mentality and experience that I will enter this race,” he admitted.
The Benfica judoka, on the other hand, added that the selection has been very “united and armored” in recent months, which has prevented problems related to the controversy within the FPJ from affecting the preparation for the competition in Doha.
Bárbara Timo, the last Portuguese medalist in a World Cup – taking bronze at last year’s World Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in the -63 kg category – revealed her excellence in world competitions, hoping she can repeat this in Qatar.”
“The grandeur of the championship makes me more focused and more present. That doesn’t give me time to distract my mind. Good things happen in these moments,” he said.
As for Catarina Costa, she was ambitious in winning a medal in the -48 kg category: “That’s my goal, to finish on the podium. I’m more studied by my opponents, but I’m confident in my abilities and I think I can go far in the competition.”
Patrícia Sampaio (-78 kg), after half a season at a high altitude, with relevant results, hopes to surprise. “I’m going through a good phase, very motivated by the last results, and that gives me more confidence. I’m also much stronger compared to the last World Cup I did, so I hope to be in the last block again and win this one medal,” he admitted.
The World Judo Championships take place in Doha, between May 7 and 13, with more than 600 athletes competing for the world titles in the sport.
Source: DN
