Soloveitchik on the level of Russian judokas: “We lack international competitions and training camps, but our team is one of the strongest in the world”

President of the Russian Judo Federation Sergei Soloveichik told that Russian judokas are still among the best in the world, despite the absence of global competitions and training camps.

Russian judokas Matvey Kanikovsky and Tamerlan Bashaev won gold medals at the Grand Slam tournament in Tokyo. Ayub Bliev, David Karapetyan, Mikhail Igolnikov and Inal Tasoev each won a bronze medal. The Russians competed in Japan as neutral athletes.

— What are the Russian judo team’s plans after Tokyo?

— We are preparing Paris, the next international competition to gain audience. Even before the Olympic Games, we will have competitions: Grand Slam stages and Grand Prix stages. We collect points, move up the rankings and prepare for the Olympic Games.

— When should we expect the team for the Olympics?

— It will be clear a month before the Games.

— Didn’t the level of athletes of the Russian national team drop after the temporary suspension?

— Despite everything, our athletes still perform well. Today, the Russian judo team is one of the strongest in the world. We lack international departures and training camps. Training at home in Russia, the guys show everything they are capable of. We have to respect them for that, they are great,” Soloveichik told .

In March 2023, the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended to international federations, if Russians are admitted to the competition, to do so individually, in a neutral status, without participating in team events, and to exclude also the participation of athletes. associated with the security forces and who expressed their support for the SVO. The decision on the admission of Russians directly to the 2024 Games in Paris will be made separately by the IOC.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will take place from July 26 to August 11.