Daria is adapting to a new weight category
Head coach of the Ukrainian national judo team Vitaly Dubrova commented on the transition Daria Beloded in the weight class up to 57 kg and assessed its prospects for World Cup 2022.
“For her, this is an intermediate world championship. I think that the transition to 57 kg is a very right decision. That’s right, she didn’t stay at 52 kg. Now she has no problems with weight loss. She is adapting to a new weight class. We saw each other at the training camp in Italy, although she did not take part in the European Cup in Riccione then. If we compare what I saw with Dasha at the European Championships, now we can see progress. I see that Daria is constantly going up and, perhaps, she will come to the Olympics at the peak of her maximum capabilities.
“Before Tokyo, due to weight loss and the fact that the Olympics were postponed for one year, she kept at the same level. It was difficult for her to do, and now, potentially, everything is very good. She has the opportunity to gain some weight and work on her mistakes. On the plus side, it’s not always a good idea to be such a favorite, as it was in Tokyo, when everyone was expecting only a gold award from her.
“I believe that Dasha is on the right track. Even though they train in Spain, there is a pretty good judo center in Valencia. It is more adapted to Pan-American countries. There they help her a lot and provide full-fledged conditions for training. Plus, the federation and the relevant ministry provide her with full training abroad and trips to competitions. Therefore, I believe that Dasha has very good prospects not at this World Championship, but in general in the Olympic cycle. I like her mood, desire to win. She didn’t stop at those victories and “didn’t get enough,” let’s say. I hope, if not now, then at the 2024 Games, she will show her maximum.
Ukraine was ready to miss the 2022 World Championships if the International Judo Federation (IJF) allowed Russian athletes to compete under a neutral flag at the world championships.
However, the IJF has taken the decision to suspend athletes from Russia and Belarus from all international competitions until January 2023, including the World Championships.
The World Championship will be held in Uzbekistan from 6 to 13 October. 13 Ukrainian judokas are scheduled to perform at the tournament.
Source: Sportarena
