COMMONWEALTH gold medallist Owen Livesey is aiming to keep on climbing the world rankings when he fights at the European Games on Friday.

The 23-year old from Haresfinch has flown out to Baku with Team GB to take part in the sporting extravaganza featuring 6,000 athletes.

Livesey, who has enjoyed a phenomenal rise since his return to the sport, faces strong competition to get a medal in the 81 kilo category with Europe boasting the world’s best judo players.

But it is something he is relishing.

He said: “I love these games. Some people let it affect them and they don’t fight as well as they do in normal tournaments.

“I do like these games and I fight better when there is more buzz about it, you get to know people from other sports and watch other events – and you get free gear. A week out there it will be great.”

To get a medal Livesey, a former Saints junior, is going have to win around five fights on Friday.

But he is aiming to do the best he can, particularly with Olympic games qualifying points up for grabs – and his eyes are fixed firmly on Rio 2016.

Livesey said: “It is the last full year of qualifying so have to do as much as I can.

“This is the first ever European games, it will be bigger than normal.

“It is the Euro games but it also doubles as judo’s European championships as well, there are loads of points for this towards the Olympics, so if you get a medal in this you get a load of points.”

Livesey, as things currently stand, would be on the plane for Rio's games.

Qualification for the Olympics is based on world rankings with the top 22, based on one representative per country, making it through.

Although Livesey is currently sitting at number 40, due to the number of countries with double, triple and quadruple representatives, he edges into the qualification.

But everyone below him is seeking to maximise points too, so Livesey knows he has to keep pushing on.

“We are doing loads, four weeks after these games I am going out to Chinese Taipei for a World Cup.

“It is about doing as much as I can with World Cups and Grand Prix events.

“It is all about points,” he said.

He knows where the strong competition is coming from, but is not over-awed.

“Europe is strong for judo - the world number one is from Georgia, the French lad is ranked number two.

“One the Russians is ranked six in the world, but I beat him in the semi final of the World Cup in Chile. If I had him again it would be a tough fight, but I have beaten him once and could do it again.

“If you get a medal in this you are looking pretty good for Olympics,” he said.

The tournament is televised on BT Sport and Livesey fights on Friday.