Judo: Expectations high for medals as quality team heads to Glasgow

Veteran Tim Slyfield predicts the Kiwi judo team will perform well in Glasgow. Photo / Getty Images

Seasoned New Zealand competitor Tim Slyfield has high expectations for the team of 11 named yesterday to compete at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The 39-year-old Aucklander, who won a bronze at the Manchester Games 12 years ago, acknowledged that over the years New Zealand has had top quality judo players.

"It's hard to compare years because the sport has evolved a bit," Slyfield said yesterday.

"But it's probably one of the better teams we've had in terms of world rankings and capability across all the weight categories that have been selected."

Slyfield, who competed at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, took a break from the top level competition for several years but "about three years ago I decided actually I have the ability to give it another go. I just needed to commit from a physical standpoint. Technically I was okay, it was more making sure the body would hold up and commit to three times a day training".

Slyfield is ranked third in the Commonwealth in the under 100kg category. One of those ahead of him is teammate Jason Koster, who is ranked first.

The team includes several players who, on rankings, would rate as solid medal prospects. But as Slyfield pointed out: "It'll be tough. It won't be easy by any means. It's just bringing it together on the day."

Moira de Villiers, who competed at the London Olympics in 2012, heads a quartet of women. All are ranked no worse than third and include top-ranked 21-year-old Darcina Manuel, of Gisborne, who is now based in Perth.

"Three of our athletes are permanently based offshore and have been travelling extensively to ensure they are best placed for competition in Glasgow," coach Robert Levy said, referring to Manuel, Ivica Pavlinic and Mark Brewer, who are ranked 1, 2 and 4 respectively.

Going for gold
• This is the third time judo has been on the Commonwealth Games programme, starting in 1990 at Auckland.
• New Zealand has won six judo Games medals.
• At Auckland in 1990, Brent Cooper won gold in the under 66kg, Graeme Spinks (under 81kg) and Donna Guy-Halkyard (under 81kg) won silvers, while Wayne watson (heavyweight) and Nicola Morris(over 78kg) won bronze.
• Tim Slyfield won bronze in the under 81kg category at Manchester in 2002.