DOHA (Qatar): A host of Olympic medal-winners and former world champions will be seen in action at the International Judo Federation (IJF) Doha Masters 2021 that starts here on January 11.
The world’s top judokas will also hope to seal Tokyo Olympics berths in the three-day event at the ultra-modern Lusail Multipurpose Hall.
The 2020 Tokyo Games qualifying event in Doha will feature 370 athletes — 203 male and 167 female — from 68 countries representing five continental federations namely the African Judo Union, Judo Union of Asia, and European Judo Union, Oceania Judo Union and Pan-American Judo Confederation.
The tournament will feature competition in seven categories for both men and women.
The men will have -60kg, -66kg, -73kg, -81kg, -90kg, -100kg and +100kg categories while the women will fight for honours in the -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63kg, -70kg, -78kg and +78kg respectively.
Riner eyes third Olympic Games gold
Two-time Olympic gold medallist and ten-time world champion in the +100kg Teddy Riner of France is among the host of past champions who will be looking start the season with a bang.
Riner, eyeing his third Olympic Games gold, has been defeated only eight times in the elite international championships in his 13-year career as a professional judoka.
The Doha event would be his first competitive opportunity for almost a year.
“I’m feeling good, and I hope to come back for the next competition in January,” Riner said recently during IJF’s virtual JudoFest.
“My target is the same – I hope to win the Olympic gold medal in 2021,” said Riner – who also won bronze at the Beijing 2008 Games.
The Tokyo Games is one event which Riner is looking forward, the multi-sport event which has to be postponed due to the COVID pandemic.
“This has produced a change for everybody. It has changed the lives of everybody. But Tokyo next year will be a special moment,” he added. “If I don’t have the gold medal in my category in Tokyo, and no gold medal with the team, I have one chance again at the Olympic Games in Paris.”
In February 2020, Riner – who has competed sparingly in the last few years – was defeated by Japan’s Kokoro Kageura at the Paris Grand Slam, which ended a run of 154 victories stretching back to 2010.
