Medway judoka heartened by performance
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Medway sporting stars Sam Malkinson and James Lewis were back in action in this season's first ranking event. The duo competed in the Heart of England Championships on Sunday, 2 September. The event, which makes up part of the selection process for this year's GB World Class Development Squad, attracted the country's best judoka. Sam, competing in the Group D under 66kg category for judoka born in 1990 or 1991, won his first three matches to get to the semi-final. |
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He lost the semi-final to a very strong player at this age group and then unfortunately lost the bronze medal fight, which left him placed fifth overall.
The fifth place finish, which earned him some ranking points for the World Class Start Programme, is not too disheartening in Sam's first competition in the Group D category. Having recently moved up an age category, Sam must now fight against judoka nearly two years older than him.
James also progressed to the semi-final. James is in his second year in the Group C (1992-1993) under 60kg category.
James was also unfortunate to lose at the semi-final stage but then went on to win his bronze medal fight. The bronze fight was hard fought, with equal scores at the end of the contest and so went in to “golden score”
James was the first fighter to score after one minute in to the golden score period and in doing so picked up the bronze medal. The third place finish also secured him 400 ranking points for the World Class Start programme.
Both athletes were pleased with the result and are confident of achieving high place finishes in the next ranking event, the National Championships in October.
August 2007 news