Western Australian judoka Calvin Knoester has earned selection for the Australian Judo team to contest the 2018 World Championships.
This year’s titles will be held in Azerbaijan from September 20-27, with Knoester set to compete as one of 11 Australian athletes.
Knoester will compete in 73kg division where he will make his senior world championship debut.
The Ocean Reef resident secured selection following an impressive showing at the recent Olympic Qualification tournament in Taipei.
Up against competitors from the leading Asian nations, Knoester finished with a fifth place ranking which collected him qualification points for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, but also captured a berth on Australia’s representative team.
Knoester however, said the result in Taipei had been bittersweet.
“It was tough to be so close to a medal and lose out, however,this was my first event in the two year Olympic qualification cycle (so) ending up with fifth, has given me a few points towards 2020,” he said.
“As result of these past performances I have been selected for the World Championships held in Baku, Azerbaijan this September. I will be leaving on the 24th July to compete in two Grand Prix to chase more Olympic points and (also) as preparation for the Worlds.”
He will next be in action at the Zagreb Grand Prix from July 27-29, with the Budapest Grand Prix following from August 10-12.
Knoester plans to base himself in Europe ahead of September’s championships, with training camps scheduled in Germany and the Netherlands.
