UAE judoka pair plots moves for Tokyo medal
Scvortov and Remarenco look to emulate Toma’s feat in Rio five years back
The UAE will pin their hopes on a pair of experienced judokas, Victor Scvortov and Ivan Remarenco, for a possible shot at a medal at the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to be held from July 23-August 8. It was in judo that UAE won their only medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics when Sergiu Toma claimed a bronze in the men’s 81kg event.
Earlier this month, the UAE National Olympic Committee (UAENOC) had named six athletes for the pandemic-delayed spectacle, in which the other athletes are young swimmer Yousuf Al Matrooshi (100 metres freestyle), sprinter Hassan Al Noubi (100 metres), discus thrower Fatima Al Hosani and skeet shooter Saif Bin Futtais.
The UAE have two Olympic medals so far, with Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Hasher Al Maktoum landing them a gold medal at the double trap event in shooting in Athens 2004.
The Moldovan trio of Toma, Scvortov and Remarenco had been naturalised citizens of the UAE since 2013 and have substantial international experience to challenge for a model at the highest level. Scvortov, now 33, a bronze medallist at the 2014 World Judo Championships and at 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, will defend UAE colours in the 73kg category on July 26.
Remarenco, a bronze medallist at the 2014 World Judo Championships, will participate in the over 100-kg event on July 30. Shooter Saif Bin Futtais will kickstart the UAE campaign in Tokyo in the skeet shooting competition on July 25.
Show must go on
“The show must go on and we have to continue with our preparations towards the Olympics in future,” Scvortov had told Gulf News in an interview.
Meanwhile, UAE’s international volleyball referee, Hamed Mohammad Al Russi Al Hammadi, has been invited to join the management team for the volleyball matches.