Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2007-09-17 From: Xinhuanet

China’s Tong Wen stands on the podium during the awarding ceremony of women’s 78kg event at the World Judo Championships in Rio de Janeiro Sept. 13, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese Tong Wen won the first gold medal at the world judo championships, taking the women’s over 78kg title here Thursday evening.

Tong defeated Olympic champion Maki Tsukada of Japan in the first of the four gold-medal bouts on the opening day.

“I am very happy to win the third straight gold medal at the world championships,” Tong told Xinhua, adding that she has won all five meetings against the Japanese.

“This year’s championships is the biggest international meet prior to the Bejing Olympic Games,” said Tong, “And it’s very important for us to know better of our rivals in the Olympci tune-up.”

China’s Tong Wen (R) fights with Japan’s Maki Tsukada during the women’s 78kg final at the World Judo Championships in Rio de Janeiro Sept. 13, 2007.(Xinhua Photo)

In the other three finals, Teddy Riner of France defeated Russian Tamerian Tmenov to win the men’s over 100kg crown, Cuban Yurisel Laborde won over Japanese Sae Nakazawa with an ippon in the last five seconds to take the women’s 78kg title.

Brazilian Luciano Correa beat British Peter Coucins to award the hosts their first gold in the men’s 100kg category.

The championships will run through to September 16, with the participation of some 800 judokas from 120 countries and regions. All top five finishers secure the tickets to the Beijing Olympic Games.

Updated: 2007-08-16 From: Xinhuanet

BANGKOK, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) — Otsuka Masahiko of judo powerhouse claimed the title in men’s 73kg category on Wednesday, bringing the Japanese judo delegation the fifth gold at the Universiade.

In the tough final between Masakhiko and South Korean Kim Jae Bum, the two finished the regular round without a single point. They also squandered the extra five minutes while none of them managed to get a golden score.

Referees gave the superiority to Otsuka finally.

The bronze was shared by Batradz Kaytmazov of Russia and Sergiu Toma from Moldova.

Updated: 2007-08-14

BANGKOK, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) — South Korean judoka Kim Sung Bum grabbed the men’s over 100kg title at the Universiade on Monday.

Kim out pointed Russian player Dmitry Sterkhov in the final.

The bronze medals were shared by Saeed Khosravinejad from Iran and Yerbulat Yussupov of Kazakhstan.

Updated: 2007-08-14 From: Xinhuanet

Tong Wen of China competes in the final of women’s over 78kg category judo at the 24th Universiade in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, Aug. 13, 2007. (Xinhua Photo/Chen Kai)

BANGKOK, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese world champion Tong Wen claimed the first judo title at the Bangkok Universiade on Monday in the women’s over 78kg division.

“The final was relatively easier,” said the gold medallist.

Tong eased past Turkish judoka Belkis Zehra Kaya with an Ippon in one minute and 52 seconds.

“Today’s opponents didn’t dare to make frontal attacks against me,” said Tong, who was gold medallist in 2005 World Judo Championships and last year’s Doha Asiad.

She said she met real opponent, Sayaka Anai from Japan in the preliminary.

“Strong judokas have been grouped with Tong Wen, however, it’s their misfortune that they have to compete with her,” said Chinese judo delegation head Su Changlai.

Tong came to Bangkok without a minute’s rest after the national qualification matches for next year’s Beijing Olympics. She got the first and third in the first two legs respectively and had to compete in two more.

“I hope to claim the title at 2008 Olympics for China,” she said.

Anai Sayaka of Japan and Nataly Sokolova of Russia shared the bronze.

Tong Wen of China (in white )competes in the final of women’s over 78kg category judo at the 24th Universiade in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, Aug. 13, 2007. World champion Tong Wen defeated her Turkish opponent and claimed the first judo title in women’s over 78kg category at the 24th Universiade on Monday.(Xinhua Photo/Chen Kai)

Download the Qualification System

In Detail — In Summary

ATHLETE QUOTA

Men 217

Women 147

Gender not specified 22

TOTAL 386

MAXIMUM PER NOC An NOC can enter a maximum of 1 athlete per weightcategory

ALLOCATION OF QUALIFICATION Qualification is attributed to the NOC, which may select from eligible athletes

QUALIFICATION SYSTEM PRINCIPLES - MEN AND WOMENEventQualificationTotal2007 World ChampionshipsThe first 6 placed athletes in each weight category will qualifyMen: 42
Women: 42Continental Qualification Systems268 places will be allocated through the continental qualification systems as follows:Men: 168
Women: 98
2Africa: 3 men and 2 women per weight category
(21 men and 14 women)Asia: 5 men and 3 women per weight category
(35 men and 21 women) 2 additional athletes, gender and weight category not previously definedEurope: 9 men and 5 women per weight category
(63 men and 35 women)Oceania: 1 man and 1 woman per weight category
(7 men and 7 women)Pan-America: 6 men and 3 women per weight category
(42 men and 21 women)Host nationThe host nation will directly qualify 1 athlete in each weight categoryMen: 7
Women: 7Tripartite Commission InvitationsA total of 20 Invitations will be allocated through the Tripartite Commission (gender and weight categories not specified)Men and women:
20TotalMen
Women
Gender not specified217
147
22

Updated: 2007-07-23 From: Xinhuanet

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 20 (Xinhua) — Judokas from host Brazil won two out of four gold medals on Friday at the Pan American Games.

Edinanci Silva beat her strong Cuban opponent Yurisel Laborde by ippon to take the title of women’s 79kg category.

“I’ve faced Yurisel Laborde four times before today. I lost three of them and won just one. She is quite a good athlete and very fit. But today I really came to win this battle,” said Silva after the bout.

“I am very happy with this win. Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been focusing my training on this competition. And I’m also glad because I fought against such a great athlete in the final,” Silva said.

Tiago Camilo added one gold for Brazil as he beat his Cuban opponent Jorge Benavides, also by ippon, in the final of the men’s90kg class.

“I did everything I had planned. Winning this medal was more than I expected,” Camilo said. “I had some problems from 2000 until now, problems with injuries and surgeries. Now, I see that all my dedication was worth it.”

The men’s 100kg class was won by Oreidis Despaigne of Cuba. He beat Keith Morgan of Canada by one koka.

“I knew Keith Morgan would be a hard opponent since I had already fought against him. He’s a very experienced and technical athlete and fights very well.”

The gold medal of women’s 70kg class was taken by Ronda Rousey of the United States.

Updated: 2008-08-15 21:09:47

Tong Wen (C) celebrates after Women 78kg Gold Medal Contest. (Photo credit: Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua)

(BEIJING, August 15) — Chinese judoka Tong Wen threw defending Olympic champion Tsukada Maki of Japan for an ippon in the final of the 78kg weightclass to win the last gold in Women’s Judo, while Japanese judoka Ishii Satoshi claimed gold in Men’s 100kg by defeating Abdullo Tangriev from Uzbekistan in the final Judo event of the Beijing Olympics.

Women’s 78kg

World champion Tong defeated defending Olympic champion Tsukada with an ippon in the final seconds of the match to clinch gold. The victory gave China its third Women’s Judo gold medal of the Games, with the first won by Xian Dongmei in the -57kg division and Yang Xiuli winning in the -78kg.

“This is my first Olympics and 2008 in Beijing will be the greatest memory of my life,” said Tong after winning the gold medal. “Actually I didn’t think it was too difficult to beat her, I believed that I had the opportunity to win, even at the last minute.”

Xiong Fengshan, the head coach of the Chinese Judo team expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance. “In the Judo events at the Olympic Games we have won three gold medals and one bronze medal,” he said. “We prepared very early and we have thought about all the possibilities, especially in the week before the Olympics started.”

In the Bronze medal match, Lucija Polavder of Slovenia, a three time bronze medalist at the European Championships competing in her second Olympic Games, beat Kim Na-young of the Republic Korea with a koka to win the first of two bronze medals in the event. Idalys Ortiz of Cuba outplayed Tserenkhand Dorjgotov of Mongolia with an ippon to win the second.

Satoshi Ishii celebrates his win. (Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Men’s 100kg

Japanese judoka Ishii Satoshi, the silver medalist at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, overcame Abdullo Tangriev from Uzbekistan with a yuko to win the last Judo gold medal of the Beijing Olympics. This is Ishii’s first Olympic Games.

“My strengths are guts and elusiveness, in the final I showed my Judo, my style,” said Ishii after winning gold. “I was able to win the gold because of the many people that supported me. I really appreciate their support.”

Oscar Brayson from Cuba, gold medalist at the 2008 World Cup, claimed the first of two bronze medals by beating Mohammad Reza Rodaki of Iran with two waza-ari. Teddy Riner of France, the European and world champion in 2007, scored an ippon on Lasha Gujejiani of Georgia to win the second bronze medal.