British Judo confident about London 2012 medal chances

By Sportsbeat staff

BRITISH Judo believe they are on-course to make amends for their Beijing disappointment at London 2012.

PROMISING: Gemma Howell is just one of a crop of talented youngsters hoping to shine at a home Olympics 

The sport had targeted two medals in China but failed to reach the podium. However, UK Sport rewarded promising results at junior and senior European and World level and didn't cut their funding, awarding them a 9.9 per-cent increase in a bid to reverse their fortunes.

World silver medallist Karina Bryant won bronze at this year's European Championships while Euan Barton also finished third at the same event.

Great Britain also showed strength in depth by winning nine medals at the recent British Open, finishing third on the medal table behind judo powerhouse France and the Netherlands.

"We are now truly in the final phase of the preparations for London 2012," said British Judo chief executive Scott McCarthy.

"We have all been awed by the prospect of a home Olympics for a number of years, but this has now been replaced by the reality that we have just 24 months left of our preparations, which will ensure our athletes are ready to perform on what will undoubtedly be the biggest platform of their sporting careers.  

"I have no doubt that the facilities, organisation and home support for the Games will be unparalleled.  The final piece of that puzzle is the success of the GB team and we are quietly confident that British Judo will deliver the success on the mat."  

Gemma Howell is one of a crop of talented youngsters, winning the junior medals at World and European level before making a promising transition to the senior stage.

She recently returned from a lengthy injury lay-off to claim gold at the British Open in a new 63kg weight category.

"I started a countdown from 1000 days in my diary and the time is flying by," she said.  

"When I was younger I always said I wanted to go to the Olympics, but had no idea of all the work that goes into to getting there.  

"It has been something that I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember, but now it feels like it is almost within reaching distance. It makes me miss the days when I was back training at Wolverhampton and still had all the time in the world".