Olympic and world champion judoka Ryoko Tamura will begin training this week after an eight-month layoff, judo sources said Monday.

Tamura is hoping to claim her 12th straight National Championship in the 48-kg class in April and will kick off her campaign with a workout at her hometown of Fukuoka on Wednesday.

Tamura, who has been sidelined with knee ligament damage she sustained in winning her fifth straight world title in July last year, is planning to make her comeback at the meet to be held at the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium on April 14.