Harriet Bonface says she feels "humble and honoured" to be part of the IJF Athletes' Commission ©IJF

Malawi's Harriet Bonface has said she feels "humble and honoured" to be part of the new International Judo Federation (IJF) Athletes' Commission, which was selected prior to the IJF World Judo Championships in Budapest earlier this month.

Bonface will represent Africa on the Commission alongside Japan's Masashi Ebinuma for Asia, Australia's Natalie Galea is Oceania's representative, Matteo Marconcini of Italy has been elected to the European position and Olympic champion Paula Pareto of Argentina were voted in as the Pan-American representative.

Austria's Sabrina Filzmoser - who was elected chair of the new IJF Athletes' Commission - was one of four members appointed to the Commission by the IJF Executive Committee.

Hungary's Hedvig Karakas, Varlam Liparteliani of Georgia and Antoine Valois-Fortier of Canada were also appointed.

Sabrina Filzmoser is the new chair of the IJF Athletes' Commission ©Getty Images
Sabrina Filzmoser is the new chair of the IJF Athletes' Commission ©Getty Images

"I feel humble and honoured that I am part of the IJF Athletes' Commission," said Bonface.

"It represents a big achievement for me.

"It shows that I've been doing well as a judo player and I will use my position to advance the interest of my fellow judo competitors in Africa and in Malawi in particular.

"Judo has been developing a lot lately in Malawi.

"With me being elected as IJF Athlete Commissioner in Africa I will try my best and this opportunity will help take Malawi's judo community to another level."

Bonface finished fifth at the 2020 African Judo Championships in Dakar in Senegal.