Judokas should aim for medals at 2020 Tokyo Olympics-ZJA

By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA ZAMBIAN judo coaches have been urged to mould judokas that will win Zambia the first medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

They have also been asked to ensure the judokas were privy to the new fighting techniques attached to the Olympics.

Speaking in an interview, Zambia Judo Association (ZJA) technical director Francis Linosi said the one-day seminar held at Lusaka’s Central Sports Club last Saturday for coaches and referees was to empower them with new rules ahead of the Olympics.

Linosi said it would be unfair to dream of a first Olympic medal from judokas when they were handled by trainers with outdated techniques.

“The purpose of the seminar was to update the coaches and referees with new rules that will be used at the 2020 Olympics as they prepare judokas. They should continue to work hard and aim to produce Olympic medal winners,” he said.

He was unhappy that only Lusaka-based coaches and referees attended the seminar.

However, Linosi said the association later this month would hold another seminar and encouraged women to turn up in numbers. He said Zambia legged behind in terms of the number of women referees.

“Out of the 25 referees, only two are women which is unfortunate as we fight for equal participation of women and girls in sport,” he said.