The Philippine Judo Federation hopes to see its athletes make big leaps in the international ranking to book tickets to the Paris Olympics in July.
PJF secretary general Dave Carter yesterday said he is hoping that top judoka Kiyomi Watanabe will be able to get into the Summer Games via direct qualification.
Right now, Watanabe is ranked No. 73 in the women’s -63-kilogram category of the International Judo Federation ranking.
She, however, is one of the ten Asian judokas eligible to enter via a continental quota as only the top 17 in each category will be given outright berths to the Summer Games that kick off on 26 July.
Meanwhile, Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Shugen Nakano ranks at No. 105 in the men’s -66-kg division while his brother and SEA Games silver medalist Keisei is at No. 118 in the men’s -73-kg division.
“Kiyomi is currently in the continental quota this could all change. Right now, the charts say Shugen is closer in his rankings than Keisei is,” Carter said in a telephone conversation.
“We still don’t know what will happen as Keisei could jump up to higher rankings.”
“Should Kiyomi get a direct qualification, any of the two gentlemen will be able to enter via the continental quota.”
The Olympic qualification period lasts until 23 June and the final results will be announced on 25 June.
Watanabe and the Nakano brothers are fresh from seeing action in the Grand Prix Upper Austria 2024 in Linz, Austria last 9 to 10 March, where they were able to collect qualifying points for the Summer Games.
Their next competition will be in Turkey for the Antalya Grand Slam from 29 to 31 March.
Carter said a podium finish by Watanabe in any tournament would greatly jack up her rankings that could lead to one of the coveted outright Olympic berths.
