UTS Judo Club: 2024 Year in Review – A Year of Growth and Success

UTS Judo Club: 2024 Year in Review – A Year of Growth and Success

As we step into 2025, we take a moment to reflect on an incredible year for UTS Judo Club. The past year has been one of outstanding achievements, relentless dedication, and continued growth. While we celebrate our successes, we also acknowledge the ongoing challenge of securing a permanent, state-of-the-art facility to call home.

Medal-Winning Performances & Competitive Success

2024 was a record-breaking year for our club, with UTS Judo athletes achieving an impressive 92 medals across various state, national, and international competitions. Our judokas showcased exceptional talent and determination, bringing home gold, silver, and bronze in events that spanned from grassroots to elite-level championships.

Key Achievements:

• Uni Games: Second place in the teams’ category, plus 2 silver and 1 bronze in individual events.
• National Championships: 1 gold medal and two 7th-place finishes in the adult division.
• Kids Division: 1 gold and 1 silver, plus an incredible 3 gold medals in the team division.
• Community Series & State Championships: Multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals earned by both junior and senior athletes.
• Standout Athlete: Nadia Nuhugoro continued her stellar performance, solidifying her journey toward the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
• Dan Gradings: Club President Roman Garai attained the 3rd DAN KODOKAN rank, and Semir Pepic achieved 5th Dan at the Australian National Championship.

Community & Development Initiatives

Beyond the competitive arena, UTS Judo Club remained committed to fostering a strong and inclusive judo community. We successfully ran multiple beginner courses, school holiday programs, and development camps, helping to introduce judo to new members and refine the skills of our existing athletes. Our outreach efforts within Sydney’s community further strengthened our mission to make judo accessible to all.

Additionally, we had the honor of hosting Naohisa Takato, an Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion, for a seminar attended by over 100 athletes and 200 spectators. The event was a massive success and highlighted the club’s growing presence in Australian judo.

The Ongoing Search for a Permanent Home

Despite our success, one of our biggest challenges remains the lack of a dedicated, world-class facility. As judo continues to grow in popularity, our club requires a space that matches our ambitions. A state-of-the-art dojo would provide the perfect environment to develop future champions and expand our community programs. We remain committed to this goal and will continue advocating for support from stakeholders, sponsors, and the wider sporting community.

Looking Ahead to 2025

With the launch of our new website, we aim to enhance communication, grow our membership base, and keep our community engaged with the latest updates and events. Our focus for 2025 includes:

• Increasing participation in national and international competitions.
• Expanding our kids’ program with improved facilities and equipment.
• Developing our coaching team with high-performing athletes.
• Hosting specialized seminars and workshops to enhance technical skills.
• Strengthening our grassroots judo initiatives and community engagement.

The future looks bright for UTS Judo Club, and we are excited for another year of progress, competition, and community building. We thank our athletes, coaches, volunteers, and supporters for making 2024 such a successful year. Here’s to achieving even greater milestones in 2025!