TEAM 2012: Conway eyes revenge on road to London

By David Jordan, Sportsbeat

 BRITISH judoka Sally Conway admits her Olympic destiny lies firmly in her own hands - but admits she must right a World Championship wrong before she can even think about London 2012.

BELIEF: Sally Conway is looking to underline her Olympic credentials at this year's World Championships (Mike Varey/British Judo)

The 23-year-old suffered heartache last year after falling one step short of a potential bronze medal in the under 70kg category at the World Championships in Rotterdam in August.

Conway, who finished fifth, lost to Japan's Mina Watanabe in the repechage just one win away from facing Tunisia's Houda Miled and a shot at bronze.

She begun the year slowly, failing to make it past the first round of the European Championships in April before recovering to scoop British Open bronze a month later.

Conway is the current British number one and believes that is good enough for Olympic qualification but insists that won't stop her gunning for revenge at September's World Championships.

"This year really is the start of the preparation for the Olympics," said Conway. "It sounds strange to say that but we are two years out now and London 2012 will come round a lot quicker than we think.

"Qualification should be straight forward - I'm the number one in Great Britain at the moment and if I stay that way then I should make the team.

"Every event from now and then should give me a great chance to see where I am in relation to the rest of my competitors.

"And that is pretty important because any mistakes need to be made now and hopefully ironed out because I wouldn't want to be making them in London.

"Obviously missing out on bronze at the worlds last year was hard to take. I was absolutely gutted but in a way I know that I never want to feel like that again.

"Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say ‘that's judo' but I really don't want to be in that situation again."

More related reading

• Robertson relishing brief spell away from London 2012 heat at nationals

• Tynan determined to reach London 2012 in memory of her late mother

• Burnett determined to close his career with a smile on his face

• LONDON 2012: Local lad JJ Jegede confident he can make an impact at Olympics

• Meet the Brits who are top of the world with their noses pressed against the window of London 2012

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