Alumna throws her weight around at Commonwealth Judo Championships
- By Deborah Minors
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The 2011 Wits Sportswoman of the Year, Natasha Glassford represented South Africa at the Commonwealth Judo Championships in Cardiff, Wales, from 22 - 25 January 2012. Glassford finished fifth in the open category she elected to enter despite these contenders being up to 20kg heavier. Glassford (BCom 2011) was ranked number one in South Africa in the Senior Ladies U/63kg in 2011. She also participated in the Africa Judo Championships in Dakar, Senegal in 2011 and was selected for the USSA team to tour Portugal that year. She was one of 70 South Africans who participated in the Commonwealth Championships, which attracted 661 competitors from 24 nations. The Championships are widely regarded as a springboard to the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth Games. "My weight and age group [Senior Ladies, U/63kg] was the largest group of the competition," explains Glassford, 24. "I fought a Canadian but lost on points" and a "silly mistake" cost her the repecharge [third-place playoff] with a Welsh girl. Her disappointment prompted her to enter the open weight category. "Here I beat the English participant and lost out in the bronze final to the Scottish over-78kg lady - she probably weighed 130kg! - placing me fifth in the open category." "All in all it was a good competition, especially by the juniors and masters," says Glassford. "The senior competition was very tough with a few entrants likely to participate in the London Olympics." |
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