Nine hundred athletes from 140 countries met in Paris to compete in the largest ever world championships for Judo. Malta was represented with the same team of the GSSE Brent Law in the 60 Kgs, Jeremy Saywell in the 66kgs, Johanna Camilleri in the 52kgs and Marcon Bezzina in the 63kgs.
Marcon Bezzina
After a full recovery from the elbow injury at the Games of the Small States of Europe and intensive training, Marcon Bezzina returned to the scene by beating Lohova, Mariya from Turkmenistan with a Yuko, she then met Aldikova, Zarina from Kazakhstan, the Asian bronze medal winner and reigning champion of Kazakhstan.
In this match, Marcon was dominating, but after suffering a yuko, lost her concentration momentarily to be thrown for Ippon one and a half minutes before the end. Marcon was in great form and could have won this event too.
Marcon now holds a world ranking of 86 out of 166 in the -63kg category, sharing this place with Japanese, Brazilian, German and Polish athletes, having won 40 points in this largest ever world Championship.
Jeremy Saywell
At 18 years, the silver medallist of the GSSE was drawn against the twice Olympian and veteran from Lithuania Albert Techov.
Rather than being disheartened, Jeremy immediately started his attacks, one after the other. The experience of the opponent showed in how he stopped all these techniques.
At the end however unexpectedly, Jeremy managed to maintain his superiority and won with a Yuko. Jeremy is presently ranked 110 out of 276 in the World Ranking, together with a Japanese, Georgian and Korean, although he is still a Junior.
Judokas attend Alfa Course Masters of the EJU and Tor
Vergata University
Two Maltese judokas - Marcon Bezzina and Joanna Camilleri - are attending the first Masters (6th Level Specialised Coach EJU) at the University of Tor Vergata. This three semester Masters has three specialisations, teaching Judo for Children, Sport for All and high Performance.
On their graduation, in June 2012, the “Golden Girls” will be helping the Federation in the major developments the MJF is planning.
Marcon Bezzina second
Maltese Judo coach to Graduate at Bath University
After following the three-year degree at the prestigious Bath University in England, local judoka Marcon Bezzina collected her degree at the Graduation Ceremony last July.
By graduating at the Foundation Degree in Judo Coaching, she also qualified to the 4th Level European Judo Union High Performance Coach.
The first Maltese coach to reach this qualification is Alex Bezzina, 6th Dan Sports Director of the Federation. This knowledge based course has been developed by the European Judo Union to give our coaches already with experience scientific academic preperation which is required in the preperation of athletes for high performance events. The courses have now been moved to Cambridge in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University.