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Nazvi Careem

HONG KONG judo players could be banned from next year's Olympic Games if the local governing body cannot justify an age limit it has imposed for Sunday's national championships.

The Hong Kong Judo Association (HKJA) has barred players aged over 30 from competing in Sunday's tournament in Tsuen Wan, prompting accusations of age discrimination by former national coach David Starbrook.

A. de. O. Sales, president of the Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee (ASF&OC), said he would be seeking an explanation from HKJA officials on their decision to impose the age limit.

'The federation does not accept any ceiling or floor at all, unless there are exceptions made by the sport's international governing body, which I don't think is the case,' Sales said.

'We will be asking the judo association to do away with the age limit. If they do not comply or do not justify their decision with good reason, they face elimination from the next Olympic Games.' Sales is a firm believer in the autonomy of national associations.

But he said, in this particular case, the ASF&OC must be seen to make a stand.

'This is not interference,' Sales said. 'This is discrimination.' But he added: 'We are willing to see if they have a very good reason.' The HKJA, however, defended its decision, saying it would hold another tournament for senior players in December.

Association vice-president Wong Po-kee said there were few players aged 30 or over and it was best to give younger contestants the opportunity to shine.

'In past judo championships there have been less than 10 players 30 or over who have taken part,' Wong said.

'Our association will have another tournament in December in which there will be a 30-to-40 age group category.' Wong did not say if the results from the December competition would provide senior players with the chance to represent Hong Kong at international events.

Starbrook, a former British Olympic medallist and Hong Kong national coach, called the decision 'a blatant infringement of the rights of all judo players'.

'How does an elected body, which is sponsored by the Government to help sports, make rules detrimental to everybody in Hong Kong?' Starbrook asked.

'This is the only organisation in the world which discriminates in the sport of judo. Many older players have great skill who enhance younger players.

'Everybody in the sport of judo are amateur players who give up many years to develop their skills and nobody has the right to cut off their future development over age.

'It's a disgrace for sport here in Hong Kong.' Starbrook said he knew of several players aged over 30 who would do well at the championships.

But he said the age limit prevented them from proving themselves in the territory's top domestic tournament and, therefore, any chance of representing Hong Kong at an international level.

Results from Sunday's championships in Tsuen Wan will be used in deciding Hong Kong's squad for the World Championships in Japan in September.

The top eight players in each weight category in the Japan competition will then gain automatic qualification into next year's Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Hong Kong expect to send two or three players to the World Championships, but local contestants are also vying for places in the territory's squad for November's Asian Championships in India and December's invitational tournament in Japan.

Starbrook believes two players aged over 30, Alex Lee Kan and 1986 Asian Games bronze medallist Chong Siao-chin, are good enough to win selection to the national team.



Olympic ban threat over age limit