GJA completes successful year

Nov 15, 2017 Sports, https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...tes-successful-year/

The Guyana Judo Association (GJA) has completed a successful year following the recent hosting its year end Championship under the theme: “Courage”. The event was held in observance of the World Judo Day Celebrations which was observed on October 28.

The national event took place at the North Georgetown Multilateral School’s Tarmac which saw more than 35 competitors and officials from four clubs in Georgetown and on the West Bank of Demerara River with the highest level Judo competition thus far for 2017. The Championship was also a qualifier for the 2017 Barbados International Judo Competition which will be held in on November 29th to December 3rd.
Joshua Buchanan from the North Ruimveldt Multilateral Judo club was judged the best overall Fighter during the competition in the under 73kg category. He represented Guyana at the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku, Azerbaijan on May 12 – 22, 2017, as well as the Commonwealth Youth Games 2017 in the Bahamas. Earskyne Trotman, who also represented Guyana at the Islamic Solidarity Games, placed second in the under 90kg category.
The under 24kg category saw Yusuf Britton cemented the first place win. Usayd Barlow finished second, while both Ibrahim and Yusuf Edwards copped the third position. The winner of the under 42kg category went to Tariq Mohamed of Durban Street, Dojo, the under 55kg juniors category was taken by NaeemYaseen, the under 66kg category was won by Corwin D’Anjou of the Rising Sun club; the under73 kg category went to Abdullah Eastman.
Abdul Azeez claimed the U-90kg category, while the over 100kg was won by Stephon Barry of the Rising Sun Judo club. The other second place winners were Junaid Barlow in the under 42kg category; Huzaifah Barlow in the under 55kg category and Terrence Williams in the over 100kg division.
In addition, the Guyana Judo conducted its annual Grading Exercise where promotions were handed down to athletes. Earskyne Trotman has been ascended to Black Belt and Terrence Williams to Brown Belt. Currently there are six blue belts, ten Green Belts, eight Orange Belts, five Yellow Belts, and eight white Belts.
A Fund Raiser Bar-b-que was done in aid of the GJA on October 29, 2017 to raise fund for athletes to compete in the upcoming Barbados International Judo Tournament. Support came from the Guyana Olympic Association and the others sporting federations as well as the Director of Sports Christopher Jones who was in attendance.
The GJA was able to successfully implement the first phase of its strategic plan which saw institutional strengthening of the sport. 2018 shall realise Judo being played in two additional regions namely, Region 6 in East Berbice and Region 10, Linden. Plans for expansion of Judo among females are afoot.
The GJA would like to express gratitude its sponsors; Bettencourt’s Food Inc, The GOA, the Sports Federations of Guyana, Fazal Nazeem Grocery of Independence Blvd, Sherida’s Grocery Stall at La Penitence Market and Trophy Stall of Bourda Market among others.