The official nature of the change of nationality (also at a sporting level after the recent green light from the IJF) of Kim Polling further enlivened the final sprint of Italjudo in the Olympic qualifiers towards Paris 2024. The 33-year-old multi-titled, who boasts four overall European titles in her career and four successes at the Masters representing the Netherlands, has in fact chosen the Bel Paese out of love (she married the former judoka Andrea Regis) eight years ago now and from now on he will be able to compete with the Italian national team.
Polling, thanks to the points accumulated in the last two years (which will not be reset by regulation) for the Netherlands, today she would be virtually qualified for the Paris Games in the up to 70 kg category. However, the former number 1 in the world ranking will have to watch her back in the next events from her closest pursuers (she has around 500 points ahead of the first of the excluded, the Swede Ida Eriksson) and also from her new teammates Irene Pedrotti and Martina Esposito.
Pedrotti and Esposito themselves were trying a difficult comeback for the five-circle pass, participating in many World Tour events this season with the aim of giving Italy an extra share, which is also fundamental in terms of team events. At this point, however, the scenario changes, because the sudden presence of Polling further raises the bar for the other Italians in the -70 kg category in view of the last events valid for the Olympic qualification ranking.
Judo, Kim Polling becomes Italian: “Proud and grateful”. Important piece for the team
“Kim is a champion of absolute value and for the Italian national team having her on the team is a great opportunity as well as being a growth stimulus for the athletes of the same category. The 70 kg is still open for Olympic qualification and the girls will all be put in a position to earn the Olympic pass, let’s remember that the 70 kg is a fundamental category for the team competition“, declared the head coach of the women’s national team Francesco Bruyere.
It promises to be a difficult management for the national technical management, which had already made choices even before Polling’s official move to blue. For example, at the European Championships in Zagreb (25-27 April) and at the Grand Slam in Dushanbe (3-5 May) Irene Pedrotti and Martina Esposito were selected in the -70 kg category. The first useful date for Kim’s debut with Italy would be May 10-12 on the occasion of the Grand Slam in Astana, and in fact his name appears in the provisional entry list of the event.
2024-04-21 18:47:40
#Judo #Kim #Polling #debut #Italy #date #set #Paris #objective
