Medway judoka retain national squad places under tough circumstances
Medway elite athletes Sam Malkinson and James Lewis emerged from the national championships battered and bruised but with their national squad statuses intact.
Both players went into the tournament looking for good performances following their top five finishes in the Heart of England Championships (Medway judoka heartened by performance)
|
|
James, competing in the Group C (1992-1993) under 60kg category, won his pool after three well-fought victories, one of which was against another national squad member. James progressed in to the semi-final where he met the boy that beat him in the semi-final of the Heart of England Championships a month earlier. The match was very tight and went into golden score, where the first player to record any score is deemed the winner. |
James was caught with a minor score which saw him lose. Despite losing he had a chance to fight for the bronze medal.
With fifteen seconds to go in the bronze medal final and with a two-point lead, James was thrown on to his head hurting his back and neck. In the course of landing he also twisted and ended up on his side giving the other player the points he needed to win the bronze medal.
James ended up in a disappointing fifth place, despite displaying some impressive judo, but this finish combined with his bronze medal at the Heart of England Championship, was enough for him to qualify for the national squad.
Sam went in to the tournament looking for a solid performance in the tough Group D (1990-1991) age group.
He got off to a good start beating a strong, aggressive player but was badly injured in his second fight, over extending his knee after being thrown.
Sam was unable to continue and had to withdraw from the tournament which was likely to lead to him losing his national squad place.
The top places at the championships however went to Scottish players meaning that Sam's fifth place finish at the Heart of England Championships a month earlier was enough to secure his national squad place.