International Judo Tournament To Hit The Mats In Novokuznetsk

The Russian President's Cup, an international judo tournament, is set to get underway in Novokuznetsk (centre of the Kuznetsk coal basin in West Siberia) tomorrow. The participants are training in the newly reconstructed Bogatyr sports centre, which belongs to the West Siberian metal plant. The centre, which was built 30 years ago, was given an overhaul especially for the competition and is now one of the few in the Urals to meet international standards. The tournament itself, which will feature sportsmen from Russia (with two teams competing), Japan, South Korea, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Romania, France and Iran, will be held in the 8,000 capacity Metallurg sports centre.