JEDDAH, 15 April 2008 — Saudi judokas Abdulrahman Al-Hazmi and Eissa Majrshi on Sunday began their training camp in Makkah in preparation for the forthcoming Asian Judo championship to be held in Jeju, South Korea from April 26 to 27.
The first five winners in the Korea competition will qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
On the eve of training Al-Hazmi received the sad news of the death of his father in Cairo and he had to travel to bring his deceased father’s body back home to Makkah.
Next Monday the team will travel to South Korea along with their coach Mohammed Subai and Saudi Judo Federation officials. It might be difficult on Al-Hazmi, but the federation is optimistic he would be strong and score success in memory of his father. “They have been through many difficult situations but when it came to their country, they always managed come through as honorable men do,” said one of the officials in the federation.
In order to gain points for the Asian meet the team had participated in several international open championships in North African countries of Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria in March. According to coach Subai, both players are determined to compete in the Olympics.
Al-Hazmi placed fifth in the 2007 Asian Championship in the 66 kilograms weight category as did Majrashi in the 60 kgs. class in Kuwait. Majrashi also won the Kingdom’s first gold medal in the 11th Pan Arab Games in Egypt last November and was fortunate to win the bronze medal in Algeria International Open Judo Championship.
