British Judo selects seven fighters for Junior European and Junior World Championships

British Judo is delighted to announce the seven fighters selected to for the upcoming Junior European and Junior World Championships.

The Junior European Championships are to take place in Luxembourg from 9-12th September whilst the Junior World Championships are to be staged in Olbia, Italy from 6-10th October.

Due to Covid protocols restricting training opportunities, international travel, and limiting access to competition across the GB Squads, the GB Performance Programme feel it would be inappropriate to follow the standard selection criteria for the 2021 Junior European and Junior World Championships.

Therefore, British Judo have selected fighters from the GB Performance Programme to attend these events with Home Nation programmes identifying fighters who have placed at Junior European Cups attended in 2021 or have proven they are capable of winning multiple fights at a Junior European Cup event.

Tatum Keen and Sian Bobrowska are both selected to compete in the -52kg category. Keen recently made her return to competition after a two-year absence finishing 5^th at the Udine Junior European Cup, ahead of team-mate Bobrowska who finished 7^th having recently moved up from the -48kg category.

Charlie Young and Finlay Allan will compete in the -66kg category. Young has competed at the Prague, Bucharest and Udine Junior European Cups already this year, whilst Allan finished 7^th at the Coimbra Junior European Cup last month.

Oliver Short will compete in the -73kg category at the Junior World Championships only, as he returns to competition following an injury. Short finished 7^th at the Prague Junior European Cup last month.

Max Gregory and Oliver Barratt will compete in the -100kg category. Currently both fighters are in Tokyo as training partners to our Paralympic team. Prior to the enforced Covid break Barratt claimed bronze at the Dakar African Open, and finished 7^th at the Prague European Open in February.

Tim Ellis, British Judo Performance Pathway Manager, is excited to be sending a strong team to both the Junior European and Junior World Championships: “After what has been an extremely difficult year for everyone, it is great to be announcing this team today. The fact that we are able to put forward a team that has a proven track record of performing in Europe this year shows how hard the fighters, WCPP Coaches, Home Nation Coaches and Personal Coaches have worked throughout the pandemic, credit to them all.

“British Judo has had great success at Junior Championships over the years and we look forward to continuing that tradition with this exciting group of fighters.”

British Judo Team for Junior European and Junior World Championships:

Women:

Tatum Keen -52kg

Sian Bobrowska -52kg

Men:

Charlie Young -66kg

Finlay Allan -66kg

Oliver Short* -73kg (selection for Junior World Championships only, subject to fitness)

Max Gregory -100kg

Oliver Barratt -100kg