Preparatory events for Olympic bound paddlers, judokas approved

The Multi Disciplinary Steering Committee of the sports ministry has approved the preparatory tournaments for London-bound paddlers and judokas ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games.

The committee met under the chairmanship of secretary (Sports) on May 18 and approved coaching camps and preparatory tournaments for Olympic qualifiers and the sparring partners on the basis of proposals submitted by Judo Federation of India and Table Tennis Federation of India.

The paddlers are currently in Patiala for a 16-day training camp till June 4. After the camp, the four paddlers -- two men and two women -- will participate in the Swedish Open in Helsingborn, Sweden and Brazil Open in Brazil.

After the tournaments, the Olympic-bound paddlers will have another training camp for 25 days from July 2 to 26 at Austria or India, before participating in the Olympics from July 29 to August 12 in London.

As for the judokas, six players will attend the National camp at NIS, Patiala till June 15, before participating in the Judo World Cup at Buenos Airs, Argentina from June 16-17.

The Olympic-bound judoka, Garima Choudhary will then take international training from June 18 to 30 at St Fort, France, before commencing another international high level training at Speyer, Germany from July 1 to 8.

The judoka will then attend another international training from July 9-14 and the National camp in Patiala from July 15, before departing for the Olympics.