In Budapest, at the OTP Bank World Judo Championships Hungary, the effects of this phenomenon are already clear. On day 1, Marton Andrasi placed 5th at -60 kg while Csanad Feczko placed 7th, beating double Olympic medallist Luka Mkheidze (FRA) by ippon along the way. Andrasi and Feczko were ranked 92 and 76 in the world, respectively, and under normal circumstances would not have been expected to perform so magnificently, but at home, they did.
Also in play on the first day of this worlds was -48 kg junior Szabina Szeleczki. Szeleczki had a great cadet career with two European cadet championship medals and an EYOF bronze but her junior years have been more challenging, so far. However, through a selection event and careful assessment of her potential she was selected to compete at this senior world championships and it paid off! She beat Perez Soler (ESP) in the first round and then took out 4-time European medallist and 8-time grand slam medallist Catarina Costa (POR) in round two. She used a wide range of techniques, from ashi-waza to uchi-mata, to make it to the third round. No-one could have predicted such a mature performance but Szelecki rose to the challenge and will accelerate because of it, undoubtedly.
“Being a junior, I haven’t had as much pressure as some of the seniors here. For sure, being at home and having the crowd with us is an extra boost.” Getting the ticket to compete in Budapest wasn’t a straight path though. “There was a Hungarian championships and there the remaining places for this worlds were available. They looked at how we were doing in our own categories too, in the juniors, and so it was determined that way.”
Once into the final days before competition, the focus had to narrow. “I never look at the draw before competition, my coach does that. During the warm-up I found out who I would have so I could prepare. I lost against Perez Soler at the recent senior Europeans but I took this as an opportunity and I went for it. Two or three years ago we also fought but my confidence was a little broken at this Euros; I was happy to overcome that.”
Szeleczki’s second contest, against double Olympian Costa, was also remarkable. When asked about how she felt beating someone of such a high calibre, she simply said, “It wasn’t in my thoughts when I was fighting but now it’s a good feeling. After the contest, I realised I have progressed since the Europeans. Now you say this to me about Costa, I just start to realise something about that win! I have never fought her before and I didn’t want to overthink it before the contest. I also didn’t have the pressure through the week leading up to this and in the fight I felt like I had business to attend to.
I haven’t watched my fights back yet but I know I practise what I did in training.” The uchi-mata she scored with against Costa certainly brought a smile to her coaches’ faces. “Here, I did it, at the worlds! In training I do these kind of things but in competition, it was the first time I tested that situation and I made it work.
I hope this performance shows that I can be part of such a team. I’m not a person to get carried away with myself but I can do this and for me, I’m just happy with the judo that I did.”
Szabina is from the same club as Szofi Ozbas and Hedi Karakas and when asked how much that contributes to her success and career in general, she said, “Massively! Our club is incredibly supportive; even when you have a bad day, as soon as you walk in, your mood elevates. We are truly a family. Having Szofi as an active player is, what can I say? Szofi is Szofi! I am so lucky having so many role models around me and she is one of them.”
The Hungarian team has kicked off a great world championships, not just as the organisers but with their judoka having an amazing run in their respective categories. This is a special part of any development strategy, creating moments of extension which will live long in their memories and propel the judoka to the next level.