British judo boss Nigel Donohue backs team to succeed

British Judo Association performance director Nigel Donohue is confident of a good performance at the European Championships, despite missing Great Britain's two London 2012 medallists.

Gemma Gibbons, who won silver, and bronze medallist Karina Bryant are both injured for the tournament in Hungary, which starts on Thursday.

But Donohue has backed his squad to deliver stand-out performances.

"There is a good mixture of youth and experience in the team," he said.

The 16-strong team has tasted success recently. Scottish fighter Sally Conway, 26, won the Samsun Grand Prix in the under-70kg catergory, lightweight Ashley McKenzie, 24, won the Montevideo Pan-American Open and 19-year-old Nekoda Davis won gold at the Sarajevo Grand Prix at under-57kgs.

Donohue added: "British players are starting to be consistent performers at international level.

"It is a major championship and on their day our guys can perform and hopefully get the results they desire."