SPORTS SECTION E
TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2025
Judokan Karra Hanna earns her IJF ranking Has sights set on making it to the 2028 Olympics By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
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ith her sights set on making it to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, judokan Karra Hanna has made a gigantic leap forward in the International Judo Federation (IJF) women’s division. The 25-year-old native of Acklins just competed at the Panamerican and Oceania Senior Championships in Santiago, Chile on April 25 where she was fifth overall in the +78 kilogram class. Based on her performance, the latest IJF
TENNIS ACE MICHAEL MAJOR JR IN SPOTLIGHT – PAGE E3
rankings released yesterday now have her pegged at number 80, the highest achievement by any Bahamian from the Panamerican and Oceania region. Hanna, a full-time judokan, said she was very pleased with her performance although she lost in the first round to the Brazilian Olympian Beatriz Souza, whom she forced to get a penalty. “I do believe I gave her a run for her money because she only won by a half point,” said Hanna, who went the full four minutes in the match. “I’m very proud of that. I went there with hopes of bringing home the medal. I was unable to win my first round against her. But I won my second round in the repechage over American Jessica Alaynick in 30 seconds.” That placed her in the bronze medal round where she lost to the Cuban Brigitte Carambali. With the matches she participated in, Hanna said she gained a lot of exposure and insights on what she needs to work on against her rivals who are much bigger than her. The most significant achievement for Hanna is the fact that she finally got on the board with a top 100 ranking when she didn’t have any prior to going to Santiago. “It’s amazing. It feels great,” Hanna stated. D’Arcy Rahming, president of the Bahamas Judo
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RUPERT GARDINER
‘ROAD TO TOKYO’ BEGINS AT SILVER LIGHTNING TRACK CLASSIC By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE road to Tokyo for the 2025 World Championships will get underway for a lot of the local track and field athletes at the ninth edition of the Silver Lightning Track Classic. Held in memory of the late Thomas A. Robinson, who made it to the final of the men’s 100m in Tokyo at one of his four Olympic Games, the classic will take place on Saturday, May 10. It will be held in the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium, starting at 9am and, according to meet director Rupert Gardiner, they’re anticipating great expectations. “When we first presented this idea to Tommy before he passed away, he was very excited about us having the meet,” said Gardiner of Robinson, who died on November 25, 2012, at the age of 75. “The track, both of them, are named after him. He represented the country well and he was a great athlete. So just his name alone makes it a meet to participate in.” Gardiner, the head coach of Silver Lightning Track Club, said the event will serve as a qualifier for athletes wishing to participate in the World Championships, scheduled for September 13-21 in Tokyo, Japan.
MOVING ON UP: Sensei Willard McKenzie and Karra Hanna share a special moment.
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HORTON PLEASED WITH BBF NATIONALS By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net EUGENE Horton, president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, said he was pleased with the national round robin tournament over the weekend. The tournament returned to New Providence and played from Thursday to Saturday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium after it was staged in South Andros last year. “I would like to thank Eleuthera, South Andros, North Andros, Abaco, Grand Bahama and New
Providence for attending the national round robin,” Horton said. “We did it in New Providence to make it affordable for everybody in these tough economic times. I think it was successful and we look forward to next year when we take it to the next level.” Only three teams participated in the men’s division one play where the Commonwealth Bank Giants out of New Providence had to dig down deep to come back from almost 20 points down in the second quarter
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THE SPORTS April CALENDAR BOCCE SPECIAL OLYMPICS CHAMPIONSHIPS SPECIAL Olympics Bahamas has announced that its National Bocce Championships is scheduled for this weekend at Stapledon School. The championships is slated to get started 2:30pm Friday until 5:30pm and continue 9:15am Saturday to 3pm. The official opening
ceremonies is set for 11am Saturday. Teams from Abaco, Grand Bahama and New Providence will be battling it out for supremacy. It’s free entry for all spectators. For more information, contact 3593558 or 422-3184. RED-LINE YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS THE Red-Line Athletics Track Club has
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