Elisa Fernández and Julia Enríquez are about to face one of the most demanding events of their career as judokas. Both athletes from the Avilés Judo Club have qualified for the final of the Spanish Championship that is being held today at the Gallur sports center in Madrid. The Avilesinas will face the elite of national judo and, although they are aware of the level of a test like this, they do not want to put limits on their participation.
“I want to have the best possible competition. The goal is to do good judo,” says Fernández minutes before performing the mandatory heavy before competing. “The level is through the roof. We are twenty judokas who have come from being the best in our competitions. It will be very difficult to pass rounds,” says Avilesina, who hopes to win at least “one or two fights.”
“We have been competing for a long time, we are very well paced,” says Enríquez, who warns that there are people of a high level “who come from being in very large places.” Despite the fact that the company seems complicated, the judoka from Aviles is going to “fight as much as possible”. Enríquez is coming off an injury to her ankle, but she assures that “she’s ready to put up a lot of trouble, she hasn’t given me any more problems.” “There are people who are very used to the category. I hope to win at least one fight”, she comments, wanting to fight.
Carlos Fernández, trainer of Elisa Fernández and Julia Enríquez, comes with a clear premise. “It is a Spanish Championship to learn and continue to accumulate experience. Both are very young and are adapting to the new weight, a fact that makes us relieve them of responsibilities in this category.” Of course, the coach does not lose sight of the fact that it is a state event that, although you have to enjoy, “you have to be next to the best and win or lose that the rivals are clear that ours are fighters and warriors The goal is for us to be hard to beat.” Beyond what the pairings may bring, the coach affirms that they do not look at the rivals, “we have to look at ourselves and that with what we have worked on day to day we are very uncomfortable.”
According to the coach, Elisa Fernández arrives after a good start to the season, with podiums in all competitions. “She has to enjoy what she has done so well so far within the framework of an absolute national final that any judoka can wish for. More than anyone else, she has to arrive free of responsibilities. She has to enjoy it and take advantage of the fact that she comes out without pressure”. Avilesina is aware that nerves can take their toll, as has already happened in some competition and, although Fernández acknowledges it, she also remembers that “my role is to make that happen, to help them come out onto the mat focused and without nerves.” .
If the best forecasts come true, it could be that the two avilesinas can face each other during the championship. “We’ve been competing with each other all our lives, it wouldn’t be something unusual, but I wouldn’t like it. In tournaments like this I prefer to face other rivals,” explains Enríquez, who, if she has to fight against Elisa Fernández, “let it be in the final, there yes I would.”
