Bahamas sweeps CARIFTA Judo

Bahamas sweeps CARIFTA Judo

The Bahamas Judo Federation (BJF) put on a good show this weekend at the 2018 Caribbean Free Trade Agreement (CARIFTA) Judo Championships, which were staged in New Providence, at the Courtyard Marriot.

The Bahamas went up against athletes from Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago in the event, which was refereed by Keith Weithers from the International Judo Federation (IJF).

Team Bahamas took advantage of home court and wound up sweeping the regional championships, winning every division contested.

“The second edition of CARIFTA judo featured a mixed country set up and was held to give all the athletes more experience,” said BJF President D’Arcy Rahming.

“It is a development tournament. We expect to see growth in CARIFTA judo in the upcoming years so we are not disappointed by the number of countries participating.”

Bahamas head coach Oneysi Portorreal Pons said he was pleased with some of the skills local athletes displayed at the single-day event.

“We are very pleased with the results of the tournament,” Pons said.

“No member of the national team lost a match against the foreign athletes. Our aim was to use CARIFTA as preparation for the upcoming Junior World Judo Championships, which will be held in The Bahamas this year.”

The 2018 Junior World Judo Championships is set for October 17-21.

The results of the 2018 CARIFTA Judo Championships are as follows:

 

Under 60 Kilograms (kg)

1) Jevon Bethel (BAH)

2) Tyrone Charles (TRI)

3) Avens Augusma (IJF)

Under 66kg

1) Desmond Bootle (BAH)

2) Davante Sweeting (BAH)

3) Seyoum Philip (TRI)

3) Giovanni Lopez (TRI)

Under 73Kg

1) Andrew Munnings (BAH)

2) Deon Pugh (BAH)

3) Tamiko Mitchell (BAH)

3) Joshua Buchanan (GUY)

Under 81kg

1) Lyle Sherman (BAH)

2) Keyon Cumberbatch (BAH)

3) Desmondo Bootle (BAH)

3) Shannard Mentus (GUY)

About Randy Smith

Randy Smith is the producer of the widely-watched local television show “Beyond The Headlines” and the web content manager of Eyewitness News. He joined Eyewitness News as a sportscaster in 2018, a role he still performs, and has previously covered a slew of international sporting events, including the 2015 Pan American Games, the Nike EYBL Showcase, several IAAF World Relays, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the Commonwealth Youth Games, the Bahamas Bowl and multiple CARIFTA Swimming and Track & Field Championships. Randy has been recognized by the Bahamas Press Club with awards for “Best Sports Broadcast” as a sportscaster and “Best TV Talk Show” as a producer.