The Judo Federation held a National Championship last week Saturday at the Apia Park.

The competition is held once every year as part of the International Judo Federation requirements.

Speaking to the President of the Samoa Judo Federation Travis Lamb he said the competition is also a chance to identify the kids’ talents.

“This is the Samoa National Judo Championship that we hold once a year and it is for our juniors up to age 14 and 15 years and over will compete in the open,” he said.

“We have to run this competition once a year because it is the International Judo Federation requirements that we always have to run national competition.”

“So whoever wins in each category will be the national championship and there is no weight category.”

“Some of the smaller people will have to fight for the bigger people and some of the girls will have to compete against some of the girls.”

The president went on to say that the competition ended well without any injuries from the kids.

“We also had the rare distinction watching one of our older Judoka (a JICA volunteer who is 70 years old) give a much younger man (about 20 years of age) a real run for his money,” he said.

“It was very impressive and shows that Judo is for all ages.”

“The winners of each category received medals and some vouchers from Island Rock and PFL.”

RESULTS:

Junior Youth Category

1st – Violet Gay

2nd – Victor Suifili

3rd -  Yuji Haga

Senior Youth 

Category

1st – Saynt Ah-Him

2nd – David Vaoliko

3rd – Austin Dotson

Mixed Middleweight 

Division Senior Grade

1st – Koli To’omalatai

2nd – Institute Peresetene

3rd – Raymond Haga

Open Grade – 

Senior Division

1st – Nanai Derek Su’a

2nd – Jay Fanene

3rd  - Aleni Smith