Auckland and New Zealand's most prestigious judo club. Located in Central Auckland, Woodhall Rd Epsom New Zealand. The University Judo Club style fuses Kosen and contemporary Olympic Judo. The current Sensei is Rob Levy (6th dan).
Pages
▼
22 May 2014
Tim Slyfield 81kg Manchester Commonwealth Games last time.
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."
MANCHESTER - Tim Slyfield won a judo bronze medal for New Zealand he outclassed Australia's Morgan Endicott Davies in the 81kg division at the Manchester Commonwealth Games tonigh.
London-based Slyfield notched up two waza-ari throws to end the bronze repechage bout in two minutes 28 seconds.
Slyfield had been beaten in the same manner in the semifinals by former world champion Graeme Randall, of Scotland, who went on to take the gold medal in the final against Winston Gordon of England.
It was the first major tournament for the powerful Scot since being sidelined with a neck injury for six months. Any thoughts that Slyfield would catch him out of form were soon dispelled as Randall scored one waza-ari for throwing Slyfield and then another for holding him down.
It was Randall's third victory against Slyfield in international competition -- one of them being at the Commonwealth judo championships in Edinburgh in 1998 when Slyfield also had to settle for bronze.
Slyfield, 27, who hails from Auckland, said today's medal was the highlight of his sports career.
"I won bronze at the Commonwealth judo championships but this is the real thing," he said.
The atmosphere in the G-Mex judo venue was electric with fans barracking for the English judokas. But many of the aficionados were also behind Slyfield, knowing him from local competition.
Slyfield also had his own personal fan club on hand. His wife Alison had travelled up from London along with many of his workmates and friends, and his father Colin had flown over from New Zealand.
They joined him straight after the medal ceremony to share in his celebrations.
Slyfield said Randall felt stronger than on their previous encounters.
"I just could not get past his grips," Slyfield said.
"His forearms and upper body strength are awesome. All credit to him."
Although he also rated Endicott Davies as a player, Slyfield went into the bronze medal bout knowing he had the measure of him.
"I knew I could get him if I could control the grips. He made a few mistakes which cost him in the end," Slyfield said.
Slyfield easily accounted for Ghana's David Agbugbuah with an ippon in the first round but encountered some controversial refereeing decisions and penalties before beating India' Vinod Solanki in a quarterfinal that went the five-minute distance.
No comments:
Post a Comment
add