The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BIRMINGHAM, England — The Bahamas’ pair of judokas, Cynthia Rahming and Andrew Munnings, didn’t fare as well as they had anticipated in the judo competition yesterday at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

But with the support of Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, chef de mission Roy Colebrooke, Munnings’ father Tim Munnings and Natasha Miller, the duo - coached by Willard McKenzie - felt they both gave a good account of themselves.

Competing at the Coventry Arena, competing in the women’s 63 kilogram class, Rahming lost to Canadian Catherine Beauchemin- Pinard in the quarter-final match. She came back in her second match and was defeated 10-0 by Lauren Semple of Jamaica in the Repechage A/B match. The 28-year-old Rahming, who moved up in division in her second appearance at the games, said it was a good insight for her with her getting two fights to her ledger.

“I went into the competition with confidence in my skill because I’ve trained with the Canadian before, and her being 3rd in the world and knowing that in training I was able to throw her and hold my own I felt in the competition I had a chance to do the same,” she said.

“In both matches I attacked and executed what I could so I am of course disappointed in the results, but glad to get the experience in a new division and at such a high level.”

Before the games, Rahming said she was contemplating which division she should compete in and more so on how effective her strategy would be. She said she got to go back to her original fighting style and it turned out to be the best eureka moment of her career. “It was very natural and more effective than my recent previous competitions,’ she said. “So I will be doing more of that. But that also entails training. Andrew and I will be headed to Japan so I have high hopes for the path to the future.”

In making his games’ debut, the 24-year-old Munnings lost in the men’s 75 kilogram class elimination bout 10-0 to Daniel Powell of England. “The fight didn’t go as I hoped. My opponent and I had similar gripping strategies which leaned in his favour and in the end was my tactical mistake that he capitalised on,” Munnings said. “I was able to overcome the challenge at different points in the match, which showed my improvement since Pan American Championships.

“In the match I blocked the full ippon of his first throw, evaded his second and got in an attack myself, but in the end he threw for a second wazari, ending the match.

While he’s done with competition, Muninngs said the games turned out to be an enjoyable and memorable experience for him and it has added fuel to his fire to make sure that he will be standing on the podium at the Olympic Games in Paris, France, in 2024.

“I have received an invitation for elite training in Japan in preparation for the World Championships in October,” Munnings said. “At Tenri University many Japanese national team members train there so the programme is highly creditable and will transform my level. “This will be my second time attending training. I will be focused on preparing myself for the worlds.”

The judokas now join triathlete Armando Moss, boxers Carl Hield and Rashield Williams and the eight-member swim team, who are now all done with their competition.

The eight-member swim team will be done today after Lamar Taylor competes in the finals of the men’s 50m freestyle.

Still waiting to compete are wrestler Rashji Mackey in the men’s 97 kilogram and the two-man cycling team of Lorin Sawyer and Felix Neely in the road race on Sunday.

The 10-member track and field team is also competing at the games. Their competition will wrap up on Sunday as well at the Alexander Stadium where the opening ceremony was held last Thursday and the closing ceremony will take place on Sunday.