The Tribune

THE administration, staff and over 800 students of the Eva Hilton Primary School have recognised the accomplishments of one of their school’s family members, Grade 5 student Keilesha Saunders, a judoist who knows her way around the competition mat.

This very young female judoist competed in the 31st annual US Open Judo Championships that was held recently in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she won a gold in the under-nine, 32-kilogram category.

Saunders went on to win a bronze medal in the female under-11, 37-kg category, a weight above her class, becoming the first Bahamian to win two medals in the US Judo Championships and the only athlete of 32 countries to secure two medals at the competition.

Her international judo competitions this summer climaxed in Atlanta, Georgia, where she won a gold and silver medal in the American Traditional Jujutsu Association (ATJA) American Judo and Jujutsu Federation (AJJF) competition.

The Eastwood Judo Club, where Saunders trains under the tutelage of sensei Neville ‘Mickey’ Munnings, has put the focus on and notice to competitors who intend to participate in the Dallas Invitational Judo Championships in November, that they plan to raise the Bahamian flag with outstanding performances from Team Bahamas in best judo form.