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Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S judoka Christi-Rose Pretorius continued to raise the country’s flag high after another positive performance that saw her claiming a gold medal at the Birmingham Junior European Cup 2023 over the weekend.
The UK-based Pretorius emerged tops in the women’s +78kg weight division on Saturday when overcoming France’s Oceane Baba Boura.
The Zimbabwean judoka had a positive start to the year claiming victories at the Tunis Junior Africa Cup and at the Algiers Junior African Cup in March.
It has been encouraging for Pretorius, who is earmarked for Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualification.
Her father and manager Herculas Pretorius said Saturday’s event presented her with an opportunity to prepare for the African Junior Championships set for the end of July in Madagascar.
She is also expected to compete in the African Senior Championships in September and World Junior Championships in October, and they are both part of the qualifying events for the Olympics.
“The objective is to get her the highest possible Junior World Ranking for seeding at the Junior World Championships in Portugal, October 2023. This will be one of her most crucial chances to obtain maximum qualification points as well as in the African Senior Continental Championships in Morocco, in September 2023.
“Olympic qualification in Judo will happen during the last 12 months where athletes collect maximum points on IJF (International Judo Federation) events, like Grand Prix, Grand Slams, World Championships, Continental Championships and International Open tournaments.
“Christi is now in an intensive training and conditioning phase and needs to peak multiple times at the most appropriate time for each event to maximise her chances,” said Herculas.
He added that with the support she is getting, they are hopeful she will make the grade for the Olympics.
“We are on track. Very excited and looking after our athlete to ensure her overall well-being, mentally and physically, and with her fantastic support from Team Zimbabwe, her amazing coaches and support from many friends we believe she will qualify for Paris Olympics as long as we can prevent and limit injury risks in the very tough combat sport of judo.” Another Zimbabwean judoka, Majaji Musariri scooped a bronze medal in the men’s -73kg at the Niamey African Open 2023, in Niger on Saturday.
Judo Association of Zimbabwe president Smart Deke said the weekend’s performance is encouraging as they focus on qualification.
“The Junior Worlds are also going to bring in points for the Olympic qualifiers. So for Christi she is in shape, she is coming up strong. She actually had no much time because of work but now she is putting more time to train, and balance the two as well, work and training.
“It’s the first time that we have had two athletes in different countries and both of them have managed to reach the podium.
“And for Majaji, he is a boy who is coming up. Due to his studies he has not been having much time to concentrate much in judo competition though this one was his second time to enter in the Africa competition. But he did show that he is a very strong and talented athlete who is now coming up.
“The event he did in Niger, the Africa Open, was an Olympic qualifier tournament for him, which means Majaji now needs to participate in more competitions in Africa.
“That might as well start to earn him international points that he may need to start being recognised on the international level,” said Deke.
Online Reporter