Olympic judoka Colin Oates will make a comeback at the 2013 Miami Grand Prix following a serious injury which has seen him out of action since January.

Oates will be looking to make up lost ground in the world ranking list at the International Judo Federation (IJF) World Tour event hosted by USA Judo in Florida on 15 and 16 June. Oates had an enforced break from the sport after he tore his shoulder muscles and damaged his left arm during a training session.

The 30-year old European Bronze Medallist who came 7th in the Olympics has since slipped from 23rd in the world ranking to 33rd. However the -66kg judoka will return in fighting form according to his GB Coach and mentor within the British set-up Jean Paul Bell.

“Whilst out of the game he has been busy improving his reaction times and strengthening his right side. Not only that, but he has also been preparing for the new change in rules, which should suit him,” said J. P Bell who has coached Oates since he joined the GB squad.

“He is in good shape and his training has helped him with conditioning and he is both technically and physically fit, so I am hopeful of a good performance. Taking on the Miami Grand Prix and El Salvador back to back is a big challenge, but I am confident he will tally up a good number of points. It will also set him up for Russia and the World Championships.”

The Miami Grand Prix follows two Grand Slams (Paris, Baku), two Grand Prix (Düsseldorf, Samsun) and the World Judo Masters in Tyumen all in the launch period of a new Olympic cycle. During the development of the World Judo Tour, it is the first year that the IJF has held a Grand Prix in Miami. Competition at the event will be tough, with many world judo nations competing.

Many have opted to stay on in Miami for a three-day training camp before flying to El Salvador to compete in the San Salvador Open and Continental Cup the next weekend (from June 22 to 23). USA Judo will be hosting a Training Camp at the Doral Country Club and Spa from Monday 17 June to Wednesday 19 June.

Big Brother contestant and Olympic Judoka Ashley McKenzie (-60kg) will compete in Miami and El Salvador and after an impressive run, Nathon Burns goes out to both events on the back of two bronze wins in Tallinn and Bucharest.

Team GB’s Sally Conway (-70kg) who has won two Grand Prix events plus a bronze in the Grand Slam will join the delegation in Miami along with Natalie Powell (-78kg). Both will be hoping to score vital points towards qualification and seeding for the World Championships. The Renicks sisters Kimberley (-48kg) and Louise (-52kg) will also fight in both events.

Also representing the men are Graham Trinder (-60kg), Patrick Dawson (-73kg), Daniel Williams (-73kg), Andrew Burns (-90kg) Matthew Purssey (-90kg) Tom Reed (-81kg)and Matthew Clempner (-100kg). Other women include Kelly Edwards (-52kg), Stephanie Inglis (-57kg), Faith Pitman (-63kg), Sarah Clark (-63kg) Jodie Mullen (-63kg) and Sarah Adlington (+78kg) who are representing the female judoka team.

With more than 300 points up for grabs in Miami and 100 more in El Salvador, Senior Women’s Coach Kate Howey is hopeful that her team, and the men’s will score vital points which will in turn boost their world ranking points. Howey said she was encouraged by the commitment of her team despite it not being funded by the BJA: “It is encouraging to see there is such a big team going out to Miami. They are all self-funding, so that represents a big commitment to the programme.”

Words by Donna Richardson