Three judokas disqualified from Beijing Paralympics for failing medical classification

Source: Xinhua | 09-09-2008 14:34

BEIJING, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Three judokas ended their Paralympic trip in Beijing after failing the pre-match medical classification, press official said on Tuesday.

Matches involved Cuban Anayasi Hernandez in women's +70 kg class and two Algerians, Ahmed Kebaili in men's -100 and khalil Guerfa in men's +100 kg divisions were all canceled as the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) chief classifie confirmed their disqualification, said Kong Jing, press manager of the judo event.

Hernandez, 31, is medal favorite after she won the bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships. She also took gold in the 2007 Para Pan American Games.

Kebaili, 26, is Alegria's one of the best hopefuls for gold as he is the 2007 IBSA world champion.

Judo at the Paralympics is open to athletes who are blind or vision-impaired. The judokas, who are guided by their touch, instinct and sense of balance in the competition, are classified into three categories according to their vision ability.

B1 Athletes are totally unable to perceive light in both eyes, or have some perception of light but are unable to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance in any direction, those of B2 have a standard of vision of 2/60 and a field of vision of less than five degrees and the B3 judokas have a standard of vision of above 2/60 up to 6/60, and a field of vision of more than five degrees and less than 20 degrees.

Previously, Hernandez and Kebaili was classified in B3, while Guerfa in B2.

Editor:Zhang Ning