DEVIZES teenager Evan Molloy hopes his inclusion in Team GB’s IBSA Judo World Championships squad can serve as a reward for the sacrifice and hard work put in since first starting the sport six years ago.

Molloy was named as one of eight athletes to represent GB at the championships in Odivelas, Portugal, this week in the -73kg category.

The former Lavington Comprehensive student has represented Team GB before, but that did little to take away from his overwhelming feeling of pride upon receiving another call-up to represent his country.

Molloy said: “It was a surreal feeling.

“In the back of my head, I knew there was a good chance that I was going to be selected.

“But when I got the email saying that I am going, it was a surreal moment.

“I brought everything home with regards to what level I’m performing at in my country and on a global scale too.

“Judo is a mental game for me.

“Physically, I feel in a good place at the moment.

“When I go to the competition, if everything goes in my favour on the day then I know the results should come.

“I’m trying to enter the World Championships with the least amount of pressure on myself as possible.

“I should be watching and making sure that I’m not getting overexcited at the wrong times.

“We were training hell to leather, we started calming things down about a week ago.

“When we get out there, we’ll still be completing conditioning sessions to keep ourselves on top form.

“We have to make sure we’re physically fit and mentally ready for competition.”

Having first started judo as a 13-year-old, Molloy’s participation in the sport came following advice not to compete in rugby or familiar sports due to his visual impairment.

The teenager’s parents have since supported him in his quest to become one of GB’s shining lights on the judo scene, and results have been making his dedication to the cause worthwhile after landing the German Cup last year.

“My parents wanted to get me into exercise, my performance levels have excelled to a place I thought it would never go but here I am,” said Molloy.

“I like to think I took to the sport quickly, it was about a year or two before I started really getting results at competition stage.

“After that, it went onwards and upwards from there.

“When it comes to sport, it was a very difficult for my parents to decide what they felt comfortable me doing.

“I couldn’t play football because of my visual impairment, and I’m not allowed to play rugby or any sport like that because I’m epileptic.

“But judo is a physical sport that isn’t overly dangerous for my head – it’s probably the best sport for me.”