The Bahamas Judo Federation named a 37-member team that will represent the country at home in the inaugural CARIFTA Judo Championships yesterday.
The two-day tournament begins on April 7, and will be staged at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium. The event is expected to feature over 200 athletes from 10 countries, including Barbados, Aruba, Haiti, Martinique, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Curacao, the United States and host country The Bahamas.
"We are proud that the team comes from all levels of society," said BJF President D'Arcy Rahming Sr. "These athletes have been training hard for the tournament. We are still looking for a title sponsor."
The team members are: under-15 boys - Brandon Cox, Xavion Johnson (under 42kg.); Takeel Murphy, Luca Chiacchaari, Gerald Georges, Tyron Scavella (under 50kg.); Matthew Gittens, Adam Charles, Cameron Forbes (under 60kg.); Trevor Cumberbatch (over 60kg.); under-15 girls - Sarah Thompson, Arianna Mitchell (under 40kg.); Naja Rolle, Alexia Smith (under 48kg.); Trenice Cumberbatch, Asia Bullard, Ryanique Josey (under 57kg.); Kaylee Roberts (over 57kg.); under-21 boys - Davante Sweeting, Desmond Bootle (under 60kg.); Taliano Ferguson, Andrew Munnings (under 73kg.); Keyon Cumberbatch, Desmondo Bootle (under 90kg.); Daleon Sweeting, Larry Marshall, Staveros McIntosh (over 90kg.); Under-21 Girls - Jasmine Russell, Alisha Smith (under 48kg.); Taryn Butler, Mya Beneby, Tara Bain (under 57kg.); Raven Pennerman, Breanna Major, Rachel Rolle (under 70kg.); Faith Rae, Karra Hanna (over 70kg.).
The CARIFTA Judo Championships will serve as a good test for the Bahamian team to examine the progress of the young athletes ahead of this summer's Commonwealth Youth Games, which will also be held in The Bahamas.
The BJF, earlier this month, sent an 18-member team overseas to compete in the Florida Open Judo Tournament. If those results are a sign of things to come, they're headed in the right direction. At the Florida Open, Team Bahamas managed to reel in 24 medals, including nine gold, eight silver and seven bronze.
"We expected great things from these young athletes, but no one could have imagined such incredible results," Rahming said of the team's performance. "As we set our sites on the upcoming CARIFTA Championships in April, the Commonwealth Youth Games in July, and even Tokyo 2020, exceptional performances such as these confirm that we are on the right track. Bahamas Judo is well and truly on the map."
Coach D'Arcy Rahming Jr. credits the holistic approach he and his coaches take for the rapid growth of the judo program.
"The fact of the matter is that judo is not just a sport," he said. "It's really a way of life and an ethos that teaches discipline, fairness, honor and respect. When taught in this context, judo creates an incredibly positive atmosphere for young people, particularly those from difficult backgrounds and those who could benefit from more structure and routine in their lives.
"Martial arts are often described by those who don't know very much about them, as forms of organized violence. However, it would be more accurate to describe judo and other disciplines like it as methods of redirecting human aggression into more positive channels, where it can be transformed into qualities such as bravery, hard work, patience, determination and a respect for tradition and authority."
Each day, the BJF program feeds 20-30 young judo athletes a free meal after practice, in recognition of the fact that many of them lacking the basic necessities at home, which is said to be the biggest obstacle to their chances of excelling in the sport.
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