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Karina Bryant wins judo silver at Europeans

Karina Bryant wins judo silver at Europeans

16 May 2004 14:55
IJF Media Team / International Judo Federation

Karina Bryant topped a successful European Championships for Great Britain by winning a silver medal in the women’s +78kg category. Bryant’s silver medal win added to the silver from Sophie Cox and the bronze medal finish by Sarah Clark during the three day Championship tournament in Bucharest, Romania.

The performance from the 25 year old Camberley based judo player confirms that she is one of Britain’s medal hopes for Athens. At the 2003 World Championships she qualified the Olympic place for Great Britain, winning a bronze medal in her own category as well as a silver in the open weight category.

In the pool round, Bryant beat Susana Somolinos of Spain and Yuliya Barysik of Belarus, both by the maximum ippon score. In the semi final she got past Tsvetana Bozhilova of Bulgaria, but was caught by Maryna Prokofyeva of the Ukraine in the final, leaving her in second place.

Also on Sunday, Rachel Wilding, also from Camberley, finished 7th in the women’s –78kg category confirming Olympic qualification. Winston Gordon, of South London, did not achieve a result, but performances at previous qualifying tournaments were enough to hold on to a top nine ranked position in the men’s –90kg category, the minimum requirement to qualify for Athens.