All set for the start of Judo World Championships

The draw has been made and tomorrow we see the start of the 2023 IJF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, where 12 GB judoka will be in action over the coming week.

13 GB judoka were initially selected to compete but unfortunately Sam Hall (Ryecroft JC; Fitzroy Davies) has withdrawn due to injury, so the first GB interest will be on Monday.

Monday 8^th – 08:30am (BST) Preliminary | 16:00 Final Block

Charlie Young (Ryecroft Judokwai; Paul Young) makes his World Championship debut in the -66kg category following some impressive performances on the European circuit.

Young has been drawn in Pool A and will face 2017 World Championship bronze medallist, Tal Flicker (ISR), in Round One.

Tuesday 9^th – 08:30am Preliminary | 16:00 Final Block

Two judoka will be in action in the -57kg category.

World 2017 bronze and 2018 silver medallist Nekoda Smythe-Davis (Ealing Judo Club; Jo Crowley) makes her return to the World Championship stage following the birth of her daughter. The 2023 Portugal Grand Prix bronze medallist will face Daria Kurbonmamadova (AIN) in the opening round.

2022 Masters 7^th place finisher, Lele Nairne (Bradley Stoke; Pete Douglas) makes her second World Championship appearance. Drawn in Pool A, Nairne will face Thauany-David Capanni-Dias (ITA) in the opening round.

Wednesday 10^th – 08:30am Preliminary | 16:00 Final Block

GB Judo have the current world number 1 and the current European Champion in action in the -63kg category.

Lucy Renshall (SKK; Pete Blood) enters as the number one seed and will face either Joanne Van Lieshout (NED) or Cindy Mera (COL) in Round Two, following an opening round bye.

Meanwhile, European Champion Gemma Howell (Wolverhampton JC; Bill Kelly) will face Carolina Delgado-Frances (CPV) in the opening round.

In the -81kg category, Lachlan Moorhead (Sheffield JC; Matt Moorhead) has been drawn against Bearach Gleeson (IRL) in his opening round contest in Pool C.

Thursday 11^th – 08:30am Preliminary | 16:00 Final Block

Kelly Petersen-Pollard (Hardy Spicer; Fitzroy Davies) and Jemima Yeats-Brown (Ryecroft Judokwai; Ian Oliver) are both in action in the -70kg category and will both face Danish opponents in their opening round contests.

Petersen-Pollard will face Laerke Olsen whilst Yeats-Brown has been drawn against Emilie Snook.

In the -90kg category, Jamal Petgrave (Westcroft Judo Club; Andy Ede) has an opening round contest against 2022 European Championship bronze medallist, Theodoros Tselidis (GRE).

Friday 12^th – 09:30am Preliminary | 16:00 Final Block

2017 World Championship bronze medallist Natalie Powell (Irfon JC) makes her 8^th World Championship appearance alongside Emma Reid (Redbridge JC; Steve Sandy) in the -78kg category.

Powell has been drawn against 2023 Tashkent Grand Slam silver medallist Giorgia Stangherlin (ITA), in the opening round, whilst Reid has an opening round bye before facing 8th seed Patricia Sampaio (POR) in Round Two.

Harry Lovell-Hewitt (Stroud JC; Richard Neale) will compete in the -100kg category. Lovell-Hewitt has been drawn in Pool C and will face Liester Cardona (CUB) in Round One.

You can watch all the action from the Doha World Championships LIVE at judotv.com each day.

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