It’s An Eighth Wonder Of The World For Natalie As Powell Bags Doha Spot

By Gareth James

Natalie Powell will make her eighth appearance at the IJF World Championships in Doha next month.

The ace Welsh judoka will travel as part of a 13-strong British team for the championships in Qatar.

Powell, the 2014 Commonwealth Games champion, won bronze at the 2017 worlds in Budapest.

Olympian Powell will compete in the -78kg class at the champs which run from May 7-13.

British Judo Performance Director, Nigel Donohue, said: “The 2023 World Championships in Qatar is the premier event of the IJF World Tour and we are pleased to confirm a strong team of eight women and five men.

“The women’s team all have international pedigree who have performed and medalled at Grand Prix and Grand Slam level, where we have seen some very impressive performances over the last couple of months leading into these championships.

“Our men’s programme is growing in strength where the team has selected itself. All have a strong Olympic Qualification ranking and have medalled at European Open level.

“The team will follow a tried and tested preparation programme over the next few weeks and we have high expectations that each fighter will deliver their ‘best on the day performance’.”

Full British Judo Team for the 2023 Doha World Judo Championships

Women
-57kg Lele Nairne
-57kg Nekoda Smythe-Davis

-63kg Lucy Renshall, Gemma Howell
-70kg Kelly Petersen-Pollard, Jemima Yeats-Brown

-78kg Natalie Powell, Emma Reid
-57kg Acelya Toprak (Reserve)

Men
-60kg Sam Hall
-66kg Charlie Young
-81kg Lachlan Moorhead

-90kg Jamal Petgrave
-100kg Harry Lovell-Hewitt