Follow the Junior World Championship Draws LIVE

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) -  The draws for the 2009 Junior World Championships, which begin on Thursday in Paris, have been posted at www.ippon.org and will be updated live throughout the event that concludes on Sunday. 

Four hundred and seventy-one players are scheduled to compete in the premier event for athletes ages 19 and under.  

"USA Judo is one of only five delegations to have fielded a full team of 16 athletes and with France, Germany, Japan and Russia also sending full teams we are in great company," said USA Judo CEO Jose H. Rodriguez (Colorado Springs, Colo.)  "We are committed to the development and success of our athletes and participation in events such as the Junior Worlds will prepare them well for competition at the Olympics and Senior Worlds later down the road."