The race is on for a spot at the Budapest World Championships, happening June 13-19. The World Circuit is on hold, giving judokas a chance to prep for this huge event. For some athletes, it’s a matter of grabbing as many points as possible to crack the top 100 in the rankings – the cut-off for qualifying. Portugal didn’t send anyone to the Kazakhstan Grand Slam, so now it’s all about making the most of upcoming competitions.
Bárbara Timo (-70 kg) and Raquel Brito (-52 kg) are set to compete in the European Open in Benidorm, Spain, next weekend. They’re part of a 17-strong squad, including eight women. The European Open isn’t a major tournament, but it still offers points – 100 for the winner, 70 for the runner-up, and 50 for third place. For Timo, currently 110th, and Brito, 124th, these points could be the difference between making it to Budapest or not.
Both athletes changed weight classes after the Paris 2024 Olympics, forcing them to start from scratch in the rankings. Interestingly, Timo was 38th in the -63 kg category, while Brito was 83rd in -48 kg. Telma Monteiro (-57 kg), who retired before the Olympics, still ranks 57th. The change has given them a tough road ahead.
The Portuguese national team for the European Open includes:
- Women: Raquel Brito (-52 kg), Raquel Brás, Joana Santos (-57 kg), Margarida Brás (-63 kg), Joana Crisóstomo, Bárbara Timo (-70 kg), Fábia Conceição, and Beatriz Moreira (-78 kg)
- Men: Bernardo Tralhão, Francisco Bastos (-60 kg), Miguel Gago, Tomás Gomes (-66 kg), Otari Kvantidze, Saba Danelia (-73 kg), Pedro Lima (-90 kg), Diogo Chantre, and Diogo Brites (-100 kg)
- Coaches: Marco Morais and Pedro Soares
Timo faces stiff competition within the national team. Taís Pina is 20th in the -70 kg category, while Joana Crisóstomo is 63rd. Timo needs to finish among the top 100 to secure one of the two available spots. Other judokas, like Otari Kvantidze (-73 kg, 49th) and Miguel Gago (-66 kg, 90th), are also competing to gain competitive edge and climb the rankings – or, in Gago’s case, stay ahead of the pack and maintain his top 100 position.