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Euan Burton and Karina
Bryant have been invited to compete at the 2012 IJF Masters in
Almaty, Kazakhstan on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January.
The star-studded event
features the world’s top 16 judoka in each weight category, according
to the International Judo Federation world rankings, which produces
a field brimming with continental, world and Olympic champions.
In the -81kg field Euan
Burton, 32, will look to replicate his 2011 Masters bronze medal
and improve his world number 14 ranking.
In the +78kg category Karina
Bryant, 32, who took bronze at the Qingdao Grand Prix in December,
will compete as the world number 16.
The blockbuster competition
is the sport’s third-highest points scoring event behind only
the Olympic Games and world championships.
400 points are available
for a gold medal, 240 for a silver medal while 160 points will
go to bronze medallists. 80 points will be awarded to judoka finishing
in fifth-place.
In keeping with Grand Slam
events there is no repechage system in effect at the Masters event.
British Judo Performance
Operations Manager Karen Roberts said: "The 2012 IJF Masters
represent a good opportunity for Euan and Karina to move further
up the world rankings and push for a place in the top eight which
would see them seeded at the Olympic Games.
"We have been awarded
the full quota of 14 home qualification places for the Games so
the next challenge is to for players to be seeded.
"The Masters event
will be the highest world ranking points scoring event before
the Games and so the competition will intensify this year in Kazakhstan."
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