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JUDO: Uchishiba, Xian retain their titles

Reigning champions Masato Uchishiba of Japan and China’s Xian Dongmei retained their titles on the second day of the Olympic judo competition yesterday.

Uchishiba won the men’s under-66kg division to give the home of judo its first gold medal of these Games.

And veteran Xian, making her comeback following motherhood, defeated North Korea’s An Kum-ae in the women’s under-52kg final in her first global tournament since victory in Athens four years ago.

Algerian Soraya Haddad created history as she claimed the first ever Olympic judo medal for an African woman, winning bronze.

In the final Uchishiba made short work of Benjamin Darbelet, securing a hold before the Frenchman submitted, having hurt his neck in the transition from standing work to ground work.

North Korea’s Pak Chol-min completed the podium places as he won the other bronze medal, defeating Mirali Sharipovv.

Xian was in stunning form all day, despite a tough draw. The final against An was a tough affair, but Xian delighted the home crowd by prevailing in a gritty contest.

Haddad beat Shulpan Kaliyeva of Kazakhstan for the medal bronze, while Japan’s Misato Nakamura claimed the second bronze.
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