President of Nigeria Judo Federation Dr Muda Oshodi has reiterated the readiness of the body to ensure that it athletes, coaches as well as officials are conversant with the latest rules in the game during the National Sports Festival (NSF) in Abeokuta, Ogun state by May, 2025 and beyond .
Dr Oshodi stated that the body is set to organize a seminar after top ranking referees must have ended finished updating states coaches and athletes about the current rules of the game of judo.
He explained that this seminar became imperative due to the need to bring state coaches and athletes to be updated regarding the new rules of judo introduced by the International Judo Federation.
Dr Oshodi noted that the rules are not entirely new but rebranded and repackaged to suit the new judo international rules adding it is however important that all judokas and coaches as well as officials are conversant with the rules in order not to run foul of international judo rules.
“ The International judo body does not condone ignorance regarding any rule” pointing out “that any one who goes against the rule will be sanctioned by the International body and this will not allow to affect us hence the seminar to update our coaches and officials and top athletes by four of our top ranking referees who will educate coaches who in turn will disseminate it to their states ahead of the National Sports Festival (NSF) in Abeokuta in May this year.
He also stated that the body will be good to go with the purchase of judo mats and new gadgets for the referees who will be officiating which will put them in good stead for any competition whether at the local or the international scene.
The Judo boss said further that the essence of these is to make officiating at the NSF and for any competition at the international level up to standard pointing that he would like coaches and officers of the body to make judo a game every one will be proud of disclosing that already a sponsor for the seminar is being cultivated by the marketing department of the judo federation to make the the exercise successful and results oriented.
