A member of the Quinte Judo Club found the podium at a Judo Tournament in Waterloo.
Roya Shafai earned second place silver in the Senior 57 kg weight division at the annual Asahi Judo tournament, her first official event.
The event was preparation for next month’s Hatashita Open Ontario Judo Championships, which draws competitors from across North America.
Shafai lost her first match by a full point, but rebounded to win her next two matches early with a full point, with one being a perfect throw on her opponent.
She got the win in her next match by throwing her opponent and pinned her shortly after.
Shafai has had a long, winding road to get to this point.
Shafai came to Canada as an International student just over two years ago from Afghanistan, being awarded an Athletic Scholarship through the “Women Leaders of Tomorrow” program (studying Loyalist College’s “Fitness & Health” course).
In her home country sports were banned for women after the Taliban took control, & she was a member of their National Judo Team.
Since graduating from Loyalist in April, she has obtained a job in her field and is continuing to train at the Quinte Judo Club.
The club operates out of the Quinte Masonic Centre in Frankford, with classes held on Mon/Wed evenings from 7-8:30 pm (all ages welcome).
For more information about the Quinte Judo Club, check out their Facebook page, email quintejudoclub@gmail.com, or call/text 613-922-5192.
(BROCK ORMOND)
