Sports Preview: Judo

Judo is set to make its 12th appearance in this year’s Sol2023 Pacific Games with Honiara ready to play host to some of the best judokas from around the region.

The two-day judo competition will be held from Monday 20 November to Tuesday 21 November at SIFF Academy.

This year’s competition will consist of 18 medal events including eight men’s events, eight women’s events and two mixed team events.

A total of 124 athletes from 12 countries will participate in the Sol2023 judo competition, with eight judokas from Australia set to make their mark on Oceania’s biggest sporting event.

This year’s judo competition will see notable absences from Team Fiji, especially the Takayawa sisters, who won gold at the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games.

Four years ago in Samoa, New Caledonia surpassed even their own high expectations to win 10 gold, eight silver and five bronze medals in the judo competition. Most of their medallists from four years ago are expected to return to the ‘Hapi Isles’ to defend their title.

Team Tahiti looks to be a force to reckon with in this year’s competition, led by Samoa 2019 silver medalists Toanui Lucas, Julien Ragusa and female athletes Teraimatuatini Bopp and Teipoteani Tevenino all looking to go one step further this year. Tahiti claimed a total of 19 medals last time (three gold, six silver and 10 bronze).

This year’s judo competition promises to be an exciting one with general admission tickets now available at Sol2023 ticket booths for $30 SBD.

The action begins on Monday at 10am.

By Timothy Inifiri Jnr & Shoreyann Ragoso, Pacific Games News Service