By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHEN the Bahamas Judo Federation breaks ground today with the hosting of CARIFTA Judo for the first time, Team Bahamas is confident that they will keep the title here at home.

The two-day competition will get started 9:30am today at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium with the preliminary rounds, followed by the opening ceremonies at 1pm and the finals at 6pm.

On Saturday, the mixed team competition is scheduled for 10am.

The Bahamas Open will feature over 200 athletes from nine nations, including Aruba, Trinidad and Tobago, Curacao, Guyana, Suriname, Barbados, Martinique and the Bahamas.

The USA and otherCaribbeanteams will participate in the Bahamas Open and the teamstournament. Haiti will be participating in the training camp with all of the aforementioned countries 2-4pm on Saturday.

The following athletes will represent the Bahamas:

Carrying the banner for Team Bahamas, which will be coached by DArcy Rahming and Regina Parotti, are the following:

Under 15 Males - Under 42kg - Brandon Cox, Xavion Johnson; Under 50Kg - Takeel Murphey, Luca Chiacchaari, Gerald Georges and Tyron Scavella; Under 60kg - Matthew Gittens, Adam Charles, Cameron Forbes and Over 60kg - Trevor Cumberbatch.

Under 15 Female - Under 40kg - Sarah Thompson and Arrianna Mitchell; Under 48kg - Naja Rolle and Alexia Smith; Under 57kg - Trenice Cumberbatch, Asia Bullard and RyaniqueJoey and Over 57kg - Kaylee Roberts.

Under 21 Male - Under 60kg - Davante Sweeting and Desmond Bootle; Under 73kg - Taliano Ferguson and AndrewMunnings; Under 90kg - Keyon Cumberbatch and Desmondo Bootle and Over 90kg - Daleon Sweeting, Larry Marshall and Staveros McIntosh.

Under 21 Female - Under 48kg - Jasmine Russell and Alisha Smith; Under 57kg - Taryn Butler, Mya Beneby and Tara Bain; Under 70kg - Raven Pennerman, Breanna Major and Rachel Rolle and Over 70kg - Faith Rae and Karra Hanna.

Parotti, the second vice president of the BJF and head coach of the Abaco Judo Club, said the team is looking good and will definitely put their best foot forward.

I think the team is looking poised to bring a big shake up to the world of judo and to reveal to the Bahamian a new and exciting Olympic sport because judo is an Olympic sport, she stressed.

With Carifta staged here, Parotti said it would be a bonus for the federation because they have the luxury of fielding a very large team at less expense as opposed to traveling.

Keeping them focused is easy because these athletes who have been chosen are very dedicated, she reflected. They have the spirit, the heart and the big commitment to the sport.

From the team selected, Parotti said theres no reason why the team should not live up to their expectations.

I think the international exposure being around other competitors from other countries will only be a plus for them, she stated. They will get a chance to interact and so I think its going to be very exciting for the team.

Team Bahamas will feature four competitors, including Kaylee Roberts, a 13-year-old from the Forrest High Academy, who will be making her international debut in just six months competing in the sport.

It will also showcase veteran Rachel Rolle, the great, great great grandniece of legendary sailor Sir Durward Sea Wolf Knowles.

Rolle, who turns 15 in August, has been competing in the sport for the past seven years, having attained multiple gold, silver and bronze medals from participating in events such as the US Open, Cherry Blossom Tournament and in Barbados.

I expect to do well, hopefully get a gold medal, Rolle said. But Im just going to do my best, hopefully it will be good enough.

I think the competition will be hard because all of these competitors earned their spots just like me so I know they will be good.

Unfortunately, Rolle has been moved up to the under-70 kilos as they advanced from the cadet to junior division where she will get the chance to perform arm bars as a part of her fighting technique.

Ive never fought these people in this division before and every division have a different fighting style, she pointed out.

As for Team Bahamas, Rolle said she likes the make up because there are some very good competitors representing the Bahamas, especially with it being at home.

Its just great to be a part of this team, insisted Rolle, who doesnt anticipate seeing Sir Durward Knowles on the sideline cheering for her as hes not up to it physically.

Dion Pugh will be one of the competitors competing in the Bahamas Open. The 18-year-old student from Doris Johnson High is excited to be making his international debut after competing in the sport for the past year and a half.

I feel great having the event in the Bahamas because I will get to meet new people and experience their level of competition, Pugh said.

Two of my friends showed me a trick or two when I was in high school in Abaco and after I went to watch them, I decided to do it. Im very pleased with my progress and Im hoping that I can win the gold medal for the Bahamas.

Like him, Pugh, who only did a lot of swimming in the past, said all of his teammates have the mentality that they can win, so they are all looking forward to the competition getting underway.

And Karra Hanna, a 17-year-old, said its only been five months since one of her uncles encouraged her to get involved because of her size.

The former basketball player at both RM Bailey and Doris Jo9hnson High Schools said two previous international events shes participated in will help to propel her to become a champion this weekend.

The training and the time that I put into it and the help from my fellow teammates and coaches, Im pretty sure that I can win, she projected.

I just have to stay focused, keep my mindset on the goal and I know I can do it.

Looking at Team Bahamas, Hanna said they are all in a position to do something big.

They cant get any better than this, she quipped. Weve been training six days a week and there was no slacking off. We put in the work. So everyone is selected deserves to be there.

With the games being held at home, Hanna said she just hope that the Bahamian public will come out and throw their support behind them and get to see the hard work that they put in.

I know Im just excited and I hope that I can get the gold and the Bahamas can be victorious, Hanna summed up.

Read more:

Bahamas Looks To Claim Gold In Judo At Carifta - Bahamas Tribune