U.S. Juniors to Compete in the Jikji Cup This Weekend in Korea

Nicole Jomantas July 09, 2010

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Five junior athletes will be competing in the Jikji Cup on Saturday and Sunday in Cheongju, Korea. 

A USA Judo Junior Point Tournament that draws top athletes ages 19 and younger from throughout Europe and Asia, the Jikji Cup will serve as an opportunity for Team USA to compete against many of the athletes who will represent their nations at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August and the Junior World Championships in Morocco in October.

“We chose the Jikji Cup as an event to provide funding for a group of some of our best juniors athletes to compete against many of the athletes that are favorites for both Junior World medals as well as up-and-comers who have already proven themselves on the Senior World Cup circuit,” said USA Judo Director of Athlete Performance Eddie Liddie (Colorado Springs, Colo.)  “Last year this tournament had athletes fighting from countries with strong judo traditions such as Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Spain and Germany and we’re excited for our kids to get a chance to fight with some of the best in the world.”

Competition schedule is as follows:

Saturday, July 10
Men’s 60kg, 66kg, 73kg
Women’s 48kg, 52kg, 57kg, 63kg

Sunday, July 11
Men’s 81kg, 90kg, 100kg, +100kg
Women’s 70kg, 78kg, +78kg

The Jikji Cup will be shown live via Webcast at tv.sports.or.kr from 2 – 4 a.m. Eastern Time.

Coached by Tony Mojica (Los Angeles, Calif.), the roster of U.S. Team members is as follows:

Women’s 48kg
Katelyn Bouyssou (Hope, R.I. / NYAC / Mayo Quanchi Judo Club), two-time Senior World Team member and two-time Senior National Champion

Women’s 52kg
Amelia Fulgentes (Simi Valley, Calif. / Mojica Judo), #4-ranked Senior at 52kg and 2010 National President’s Cup silver medalist

Men’s 60kg
Aaron Fukuhara (Torrance, Calif. / Gardena Judo Club), 2010 Senior Pan Am silver medalist and 2010 Senior Nationals bronze medalist at 55kg

Men’s 66kg
Everet Desilets (Hope, R.I. / Mayo Quanchi Judo Club), 2009 Cadet World Team member and 2009 U.S. Open silver medalist at 60kg
Kyle Taketa (Torrance, Calif. / Gardena Judo Club), 2010 Senior Nationals bronze medalist at 66kg and 2007 Senior Pan Am medalist at 55kg

Tags: Aaron Fukuhara, Amelia Fulgentes, Everet Desilets, Katelyn Bouyssou, Kyle Taketa, Tony Mojica