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Great Britain’s Colin Oates
believes he’s hitting form at the right time as he looks to bring
home a medal from the Senior European Championships in Vienna,
Austria, which run from April 23 nd – April 25th.
At the Prague World Cup
in February Oates emerged from a talented field in the under 66kg
category to win a bronze medal.
The Norwich fighter, 26,
now trains at the renowned British Judo Performance Institute
at Dartford.
Oates learnt his trade
at the Kumo Judo Club, Thetford, who are members of the British
Judo Association.
“I’ve progressed well since
the new Head Coach, Patrick Roux, started and I’m getting good
results,” said the highly-regarded judoka.
“I’ve been beating some
of the best on the circuit but the greatest thing for me is seeing
what I’ve been working on in training come out on the mat. In
Prague it was more fluent, it was flowing judo.”
The in-form Oates received
rich praise for his efforts in Prague from Great Britain Coach
Darren Warner, as he continues to make significant strides since
winning the British Judo’s Most Improved Player Award for 2009.
“It was a nice accolade
but I think I’ve improved a lot more since then,” he said.
“Winning medals helps you
to develop. I’d really like to push on and have a good performance
at the European Championships.”
“The main aim is to be
in the final block. If you lose that first fight then that’s it,
there’s no repechage system until the quarter final., I want to
avoid that and remain in the running,” Oates added.
The British Judo Association
is the National Governing Body for the Olympic Sport of judo in
Great Britain.
Kumo Judo Club train at
The Scout Hut, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2JH. Juniors train on Thursday
at 18:15 – 19:15 while advanced juniors and seniors train on the
same day at 19:15 – 20:15.
Media Contact:
Mark Pickering
British Judo
(t) 01509 631674
(e) mark.pickering@britishjudo.org.uk
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