Judokas produce major upsets on action-packed day

Source: China Daily | 09-09-2008 12:01

Yesterday's judo finals were jam packed with drama and skilful action as defending champions fell to younger and less-fancied opponents.

The day also saw Mexico and Venezuela win their first Paralympic golds in judo.

In the women's 63kg category, Naomi Soazo from Venezuela wrapped up the final against Marta Arce from Spain with an ippon, or one-armed shoulder throw, only three seconds into the match.

The bronze medals were shared by Angelique Quessandier from France and Madina Kazakova from Russia.

An ippon finish also decided the men's 73kg category, when Mexico's Eduardo Avila defeated the host country's promising charge Xu Zhilin in the early minutes of the bout.

"I don't know what to do because I never expected this would happen," said an excited Avila.

"This was a very important day for me."

Argentina's Fabian Ramirez and Ukraine's Sergii Sydorenko shared bronze.

After a hard-fought battle, Cuba's Isao Cruz defeated France's Cyril Jonard, the defending champion, in the men's 81kg final.

"My opponent was the gold medalist in Athens. He is very strong and this match was very difficult for me. But, finally, I won," said the Cuban after the final.

The bronze medals in the category went to Argentine Jorge Lencina and Venezuelan Reinaldo Carvallo.

With 19-year-old Wang Lijing winning the women's 57kg category, the hosts have now snared three gold medals in judo. The Tianjin judoka, who studies massage at a special school in her spare time, defeated Germany's defending champion Ramona Brussig in a spectacular final full of diverse attacking skills.

Bronze medals were awarded to Brazil's Daniele Silva and Spain's Maria Monica Merenciano.

Editor:Xiong Qu