The Tribune

By RENALDODORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN approximately two weeks, the international judo community will descend on the Bahamas as the island nation hosts the sport's elite talent from around the world.

A total of 510 judokas, including 295 men and 215 women from five continents and 81 countries, are expected to compete at the World Junior Judo Championships in the Imperial Ballroom at the Atlantis resort October 17-21.

The Bahamas has registered a 14-member team of nine men - Jevon Bethel, Desmond Bootle, Davante Sweeting, Andrew Munnings, Dre Hall, Desmondo Bootle, Lyle Sherman, Daleon Sweeting, Larry Marshall - and five women - Jasmine Russell, Mya Beneby, Breanna Major, Raven Pennerman and Sasha Ingraham.

Team members most recently competed at the Ocean State Judo Championships in Providence, Rhode Island, and won the best team trophy.

"We have some things to work on, but we are right where we need to be to have success at the Jr World Championships," said Oneysi Pons, head coach of the national team.

The World Junior Judo Championships will be the largest sport tournament ever held in the Bahamas in terms of numbers and diversity of countries.

"It is time to support this team," says D'Arcy Rahming Jr, high performance director of the national team. "The championships are upon us and the athletes have trained hard and the results are showing. But they need the support to carry them over the edge." He added: "We have never had a team this good and this well-prepared."

Rahming also serves as the judo head coach for the University of Bahamas Mingoes, which features several national team members on its roster.

"They are training right now for the World Junior Championships," he said during UB Media Day. "Many of the UB team will be competing at the tournament and we are very proud of them. These guys are training at a very high level and they are the best we have ever trained in the country." In May, the Bahamas Judo Federation hosted trials to determine the development team for the World Juniors in addition to the Youth Olympic Games. The majority of the male team with the exception of two members comes from those living in the athlete house. Bahamas Judo has invested in the athlete house to ensure that athletes are training a minimum of 25 hours a week. The house is free to athletes and meals and rides to school and training are free.

The Federation is funded by the public and sponsors. Anyone interested in finding more information about the federation may write to bahamasjudo@gmail.com.

According to BJF President D'Arcy Rahming, The Judo Junior World Championships will represent a major economic and cultural boost for the Bahamas and will showcase the country to millions of the sports followers worldwide.

The multicultural event is set to create an atmosphere that will feature thousands of local and international patrons.

It's going to be quite an amazing number of rooms and people coming in to enjoy the competition. We're hearing that a lot of people are coming, not just for the competition, but to also enjoy what the Bahamas has to offer," Rahming Sr said, "Our team is training about 30-40 hours a week and our staff compliment is about five professionals, who are training them, so we are treating this very special and we are looking forward to really winning the title.This is also an Olympic qualifier, so anybody who breaks through here will get a shot at going to the Olympic Games (in 2020 in Tokyo, Japan). That's what we're hoping for, to get a couple of these guys to get through."

Daniel Lascau, Sport Director for the International Judo Federation voiced the support of IJF President Marius Vizer.

"The Junior World Championships is an important event of our international calendar and of our strategy because the junior age category represents the future of our sport. Many big names before becoming World and Olympic Champions, performed first in Junior and everybody will look carefully at the results of the event to discover who will be the next generation of heroes," he said.

He said the IJF saw fit to grant the Bahamas the role as hosts after an impressive showing during the Commonwealth Youth Games.

The 2017 edition of the games was hosted in Zagreb Croatia and featured 590 judokas from 83 countries and five continents.

The Atlantis Resort's convention center will also feature a Bahamian cultural village among several other attractions. The event will also give locals and visitors alike a chance to learn about the Bahamas

IJF development director Jose Rodriguez said he is familiar with the Bahamas' ability to host international sporting events from his track and field associations in the 1908s.

"Congratulations to the Bahamas for being chosen as hosts," he said, "This is a fantastic event. The Bahamas is no stranger to me, I came from track and I used to come here often in the 80s and I know what Bahamas can do to put on a show. I was a big fan when I heard of it because I experienced the excitement of your event and your country. There will be many people here that will have never seen an ocean before and when you think about it, their first experience will be here in the Bahamas and what an experience they will have when they come here. I encourage you to get your schools ready to come out and support and get them to learn about the 80 plus countries that will be here. Show them what the Bahamas is all about and show them what you can do. It will be a great experience and I am sure that from this event, judo will be different in the Bahamas."