Andrews’ world championship qualification confirmed

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

GISBORNE judoka Sydnee Andrews has officially qualified for the world championships — an event her hometown coach rates even higher then the Olympic Games.

Andrews, 20, is one of six New Zealand judoka to be ranked in the top 100 in their division and this has automatically earned them a place at the worlds being held in Qatar’s capital city of Doha next month.

Should all six go, it would be New Zealand’s largest contingent at the champs in 10 years.

Andrews’ qualification was no surprise. She has a world ranking of 35 in the women’s over-78 kilograms class after an outstanding silver medal performance at the Rome European Open last month.

“That (her selection) was on the cards with what she had already done,” Gisborne Judo Club (GJC) head coach Jason King told The Herald yesterday.

But the Birmingham Commonwealth Game bronze medallist faces “a big step” up to senior ranks after moving out of junior level (under-20) in December of last year.

“To me it’s the biggest tournament in the world,” said King, who remains the only male from GJC to have competed at the open worlds (1997).

“People say the Olympics are the greatest but when you go to the world champs, there’s much bigger numbers. It’s a big thing for athletes to make. You get a win at the worlds, it’s great — massive.”

King recalls the last worlds he attended as a coach — Russia in 2014.

“There were 127 countries there and it’s probably even bigger now . . there will be close to every country registered (members of the International Judo Federation).”

That number is now 200.

Andrews, who is based in England at Camberley Judo Club near London, has just ended what she described as “a great few days” at an international training camp in Sindelfingen, southern Germany.

Training will be her focus as she builds up to the worlds and a strong performance there will add to her rankings points as she continues her bid to make the Paris Olympic Games.

Gisborne Judo club members were in medal-winning form at the North Wellington open championships in Palmerston North.

Results — Senior boys, 50kg: Mitchell Spriggs gold; Blake Pearse silver.

Senior boys, 40kg: Reuben Walsh bronze.

Senior girls, 36kg: Macy Jacobs gold.

Senior girls, +63kg: Amelia Gibb gold.

Senior girls, open: Amelia Gibb bronze, Isla Jacobs bronze.