After Three Bronze Medals, Sarah Menezes Wants the Gold in Chelyabinsk 2014 World Judo Championship
The 24-year old athlete from Piaui, Olympic champion and three-time bronze medalist in world championships (Tokyo 2010, Paris 2011 and Rio 2013) and considering the titles that Sarah Menezes (48kg) has in her background, the professional path the judoka has been taking all these years, it may be said that the podium is guaranteed in Chelyabinsk 2014 World Judo Championship. There are only five days left. The athletes from Sarah’s category, extra-light weight (48kg), will be the first ones into action, on August 25th, in the Traktor Arena from Russia. After having four times participating in world championships and after having won the third place in three of them, Sarah Menezes is confident in getting the gold and believes that her experience can help her reach it.
"I'm not very happy with the bronze from the last three World championships. Now my goal is getting the gold. I am not afraid of any opponent. I can face anyone; you can’t choose your rivals because there is a key draw-in. Russia is a place that brings me good memories, always with good results and fighting very well in competitions. I am very happy with it, and the idea is keeping it this way, "said Sarah, who won last month the gold on the mats of Tyumem / RUS during the Grand Slam.
Placed in the ranking after the Mongol Urantsetseg Munkhbat, Sarah Menezes is on the second and so she will be a head-key in the competition, which enables her take an easier key, at least in theory. The athlete’s strong confidence is not restricted to her future performance in this World Championship, but it goes further to the whole women's team.
"The World Championship will not be different, I'll give my best and get the gold. I am very confident because we have been preparing hard, we are traveling a lot and training with the girls out there, “Sarah said. "After the 2013 bronze we have been working further on the technical tactical, physical and psychological sides, and this gives me a lot of hope in reaching my goal," she added.
Chelyabinsk 2014 World Judo Championship starts next Monday, August 25th. SporTV broadcasts the qualifiers from 2pm and the finals from 8am, Brasília local time.
