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51-STRONG SQUAD ANNOUNCED FOR JUDO WORLD CUP

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British Judo/UK Sport 09 September 2009

A 51-strong British team, including 13 players who competed in the recent World Championships, have been selected for the 2009 GB World Cup being staged later this month.

The event, supported by the UK Sport World Class Events programme, will take place at Birmingham National Indoor Arena, on the 19th and 20th September.

As host nation Britain has decided to field the maximum four competitors in each of the seven men’s weight categories, plus 23 women across the seven women’s categories. Four gold medallists from last year’s GB World Cup for Women are returning to defend their titles - Colleen Kerr (-63kg), Sally Conway (-70kg), Sarah Adlington (+78kg) and Faith Pitman (-63kg) who claimed her title in the -57kg category last time.

Commenting on her selection, 22 year old Conway said “I am feeling good at the moment all rested up and recovered from the weekend and looking forward to fighting the GB World Cup. It should be a really good competition with all the different teams attending”.

In addition to Conway, 12 more players, who competed in Rotterdam have been selected, these include European Silver medallist Sarah Clark (-63kg). Commenting on the event, Clark said, “I am looking forward to competing at the GB World Cup in front of a home crowd and home support. I think, after the disappointment of the recent World Championships and losing out in the first round, that the GB World Cup will be an important event to get back on track.

“I took a bronze medal at this event in 2006 so of course I'll be looking to better this and put in a good, strong and solid performance.”, she continued.

Commenting on the strength of the team, Head of Delegation Karen Roberts said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for a large number of our players to gain international experience and experience of an event of this level."

It is the first time that a World Cup for both Men & Women has been held in the UK and follows on from the Women’s World Cups held in 2006 and 2008 and the Men’s World Cup held in 2007.

"We are delighted that this competition is taking place in the UK,” said Simon Morton, UK Sport’s Senior Events Consultant. “By funding these world class events so that they can take place on home soil, we will not only aid the preparation of our athletes, but also event managers, officials and volunteers in the build up to the London Olympic and Paralympic Games."

The GB World Cup returns to the NIA for the fourth time and forms part of the new World Ranking system, announced by the International Judo Federation (IJF), which contributes to Olympic qualification and each individuals World standing. It begins in Birmingham on the 19th September.

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