Back in from the cold, Russian judokas eye Paris Olympics
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Russia's Arman Adamian after defeating Czech Republic's Lukas Krpalek in their -100Kg final bout at the World Judo Championship.
PHOTO: AFP
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DOHA – After returning to international competition at the World Championships in Doha following a ban in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian judokas are now eyeing the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Competing under neutral flags, the Russians struggled to land titles but Arman Adamian broke their duck last Friday in Doha, winning -100 kg gold.
After his win, the Russian flag was replaced for the ceremony with a banner of the competition and the anthem played was that of the International Judo Federation (IJF) rather than Russia’s.
Adamian’s tunic also bore the letters AIN for Independent Neutral Athletes rather than Russia.
Asked how he felt about that, the 26-year-old said simply: “No comment.”
“They understand that they come here as an individual because it is the rule from the International Olympic Committee (IOC),” Russian federation press chief Maria Tikhonravova told AFP.
“We understand but we hope the situation will change.”
Russians and Belarusians at the tournament say they have been well received by competitor nations.
“Judo is a big friendly family,” said Adamian.
Tikhonravova added: “When I arrived, I met people from the IJF, EJU (European Judo Union), and also from international teams and everybody was ready to say ‘thank you’ for coming, we really missed you and they hope that we will stay here for other competitions until the Olympic Games.”
During their enforced absence from the circuit, the Russian judokas have continued training and taken part in domestic competitions or else attended training camps with their Belarus neighbours and allies.
“I never stopped training, I was continuing my job and I think I deserved it,” said Adamian.
There is an advantage in seeing the Russians and Belarusians return in that, a year out from the Paris Olympics, rival nations can see what stage their preparations are currently at.
“Better to see them a year out from the Games. It gives us an idea of their level as we had not seen them since March 2022,” explained French deputy head coach Bastien Puget, despite a colleague regretting Ukraine’s resulting withdrawal from the event.
Tikhonravova said: “Of course, we want to go (to the Olympics) with our flag and anthem. I am a citizen of Russia, you are a patriot of your country, we are patriots of our country.”
In March, the IOC recommended the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions, without commenting on their presence at the Paris Games. That decision is yet to be taken. AFP
