Star judoka Riner hopes to seal Olympic berth in Doha
Mohammad Amin
DOHA: Teddy Riner will be looking for a record-equaling third Olympic judo title in 2021 when he competes at the next month’s Qatar Masters — one of the qualifying events for Tokyo 2020.
The 31-year-old will compete at the Doha event that will be held from January 11 to 13.
The competition in the Qatari capital will be the opening event of the International Judo Federation (IJF) season.
“I’m feeling good. I hope to come back for the next competition in January. I hope to win the Olympic gold medal in 2021,” Riner told IJF’s virtual JudoFest.
The Frenchman, whose 154 victories stretching back to 2010 was ended by Japan’s Kokoro Kageura at the Paris Grand Slam in February this year, also intends to compete in the mixed team event which is due to make its Olympic debut in Tokyo.
Riner won a bronze at the Beijing 2008 Games and has earned eight world titles in the heavyweight, over-100 kg category.
“Tokyo next year will be a special moment. If I don’t have the gold medal in my category in Tokyo, and no gold medal with the team, I have one chance again at the Olympic Games in Paris,” added Riner.
