Young judo talents dedicated to sport

Standing at the side of the mat, adrenaline pumps through Chanel Kavanagh's veins.

She's about to take on a girl who is two feet taller than her.

But Chanel is not a teen to be messed with - she's a judo expert and was a stand-out competitor at the New Zealand Secondary School Judo Championships held at Aquinas Action Centre in Pyes Pa yesterday.

Her petite physique worked to her advantage in the fight - her first of the day - which she won against a competitor from Wellington.

"Before a tournament you get really nervous but after your first fight everything feels so much better," the 17-year-old said.

Chanel, who has been a member of the Tauranga Judo Club for about 10 years, got into the sport through her father, who is a coach at the club.

She said there were many benefits to the martial art form, including learning self defence and having the chance to push physical boundaries.

To get to an elite level, Chanel said it was important to train both your body and mind, as judo was a sport that encompassed both mental and physical strength.

Her dedication to the sport - training four times a week - saw her named as a member of the New Zealand team for the Oceania championships held in Australia in April.

Chanel's Tauranga Judo Club team mate, Jono Hodges, was also selected for the prestigious tournament, where he represented New Zealand for the first time.

At the national championships yesterday, Jono said the competition was tough and there was pressure to perform because of his selection for the Oceania championships.

Chris Kingston, national sporting director of Judo New Zealand, said there were some "very talented" athletes at yesterday's competition.

It attracted 69 competitors from around the country.