A great deal depends on the value or importance attached to the event, or the opponent against whom we suffer the loss. Moreover, we can also consider the manner of the defeat. Take for example, Majlinda KELMENDI (KOS) who came to Budapest fresh from her gold medal winning performance at the European Games. One could reasonably expect the current Olympic champion to be on good form. Yet she suffered two defeats both of which drew from her two different emotions. There was the frustration at losing to the relative newcomer and unseeded MAEDA Chishima (JPN). This was a setback in terms of the overall plan to deal and cope with the Japanese threat. In the past 10 years Kelmendi has a winning record (8-6). But it was this particular opponent and the nature of the loss that will have Kelmendi smarting.
To make matters worse Kelmendi then went on to lose concentration in the bronze medal contest against Ana PEREZ BOX (ESP). Once again it is the nature of the loss that will have Kelmendi looking at herself and asking where things went wrong. Of course, it is essential to review a loss and identify what needs to be corrected to ensure that the loss does not occur again. But there is also the danger of applying too much emphasis to a loss that really is only a stepping stone to a much greater goal. Kelmendi’s goals are the world championships and retaining the Olympic title. I don’t see that a loss (or in this case two) shatters those goals. In fact, when viewed as training and preparation for the greater goal then any errors that occurred may be seen as part of the natural progression to ensure that potential difficulties are identified and dealt with prior to the world championships or Olympic Games. Kelmendi has never suffered three back-to-back losses in her career. Having suffered two losses here, the odds are that whomsoever has the task of facing her next is in for a very rough ride.
Sheldon Franco-Rooks, who was one of the founding members of the IJF live stream, has been a mainstay since the birth of the IJF World Judo Tour in 2009 and has commentated on hundreds of IJF events. Franko-Rooks also commentates for the EJU and has worked at three Olympic Games.