Training camps in the Middle East or Eastern Europe is on the agenda of the Philippine Judo Federation (PJF) in line with the association’s plans for 2025.

PJF president Ali Sulit told DAILY TRIBUNE that another option is a stint in Japan owing to its proximity.

“I told them even before that I would very much like to look into training camps coming from the Middle Eastern countries or even Eastern European. They changed it up a bit because even before my time, our national teams, because of our friendship and relationship with Japan, we’ve always sent them to Japan,” Sulit said.

“So we will continue that, of course. But I want our athletes to be exposed after analysis, because I’m a coach myself.”

“Because judo is different in that part of the world. Those countries have their own form of wrestling or grappling art.”

The Philippines looks to improve its medal haul in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Thailand this year after getting only one gold medal in Cambodia in 2023.

Rena Furukawa was the lone gold medalist for the Filipino judokas after beating Chu Myat Noe Wai of Myanmar in the final of the women’s 57-kilogram category.

Entering the 33rd SEA Games, the Philippines won’t have top judoka Kiyomi Watanabe for the second straight time as her weight division of -63-kg was not included.

Sulit said they will host a tournament this year to further help the national team prepare for the prestigious biennial meet that will take place in Thailand from 9 to 20 December.

“It’s the Asian Championships in Bangkok and then, the month after, we will be hosting the Southeast Asian Championships in Tagaytay,” Sulit said.

“Basically, it’s at the SEA Games level but with more participants.”