The 2013 Junior World Championships start tomorrow and for GB athlete Philip Awiti-Alcaraz (-100kg) it is the last chance to become a junior world medallist, before embracing senior competition full-time.

Awiti-Alcaraz is poised to wrap up his junior career at the top of his game with five Junior European Cup golds under his belt and he is currently placed fourth in the junior european ranking list.

Having been selected to represent Great Britain at Senior World Championships in Rio earlier this year, he suffered an early exit to Swede Martin Pacek but the event provided valuable experience to the Enfield youngster.

“I feel good about the Junior Worlds and hopefully with a bit of luck I can get a good result,” he said.

“I have been training hard and putting a lot of work in the run up towards and I am hungry for this result.”

The competition, taking place between October 23-26 in Ljubljana, Slovenia will feature the best up-and-coming judoka from across the world.

Max Stewart (-81kg), with his fifth place finish at Junior European Championships is hoping to build upon his result, as Lucas Rowe (-60kg) and Connor Ireland (-66kg) will also be stepping up for the challenge, already having Junior European Cup medals to their name.

Hayley Willis, who took a bronze medal in the 2011 Junior Worlds in Cape Town will be looking to better her result in the -48kg category, whilst Jade Lewis (-52kg) and Bekky Livesey (-57kg), will also be hoping to perform on the world stage.

Meanwhile, Katie Jemima Yeats-Brown (-63kg), a former European Cadet Champion and World Cadet bronze medallist competes alongside Jemima Duxberry, a Junior European Cup winner, at the weight. Amy Livesey (-70kg), Natasha Maslen (-70kg) and Jodie Myers (+78kg) all Junior European Cup medallists, complete the women’s team.

Sunday will also see Great Britain compete in the 2013 Junior World Team Championships event, following the individual competition.

Action commences at 9am British Standard Time (BST) or 10am local time and then the final block starts at 4pm BST or 5pm local time.

Words by Donna Richardson.