Smith hopes for win at Oceania judo titles

Press, 25 August 1988, Page 22

Smith hopes for win at Oceania judo titles

Canterbury’s Mike Smith hopes that a winning performance at the Oceania judo championships this week-end will earn him a place at the Seoul Olympic Games. The third-dan black belt was an unsuccessful nominee for the Seoul games when the New Zealand Olympic team was named on May 24, but his subsequent form must be making the selectors think hard about a late nomination. Smith, aged 26, finished second at the Commonwealth championships in Northern Ireland, and third at the Pacific Rim championships in

the United States recently. A winning performance in the under 95 kg class at Sydney this week-end is vital if he is to get a last-minute call-up. “This is my last chance for Seoul. I have to win and hope that the selectors take note. I was disappointed not to be nominated the first time around but I did not have a very good national tournament, losing to Wayne Watson. who is fiehtine in the

son, who is iignung in me same class at Sydney,” Smith said. Smith has won the Oceania title for the last three years

and is confident of a repeat success. "The Australians will be tough, but I know who I have to fight and can plan for it,” he said. Smith has been keeping fit by playing third grade rugby and working on technique in the gymnasium. If he does get to Seoul, he will face the world’s best judokas. “A lot depends on the draw at Seoul. I would definitely go

ai ocuui. 1 wuuiu uciuiiiciy gu in with a positive attitude but I can’t really say if I would come out of it with a medal,” Smith said.