Games of la
Francophonie

September 29, 2009

A Gold and a Silver for Team Canada Judokas

Our Canadians Amy Cotton (- 78 kg category) and Sasha Mehmedovic (- 66 kg category) won Team Canda’s first two medals at the Michel el-Murr field yesterday.
 
To reach the final, Sasha defeated his opponents by pinning them with a technique he has mastered perfectly. His first match against Moroccan Hamza Belgaid barely lasted 25 seconds; his second, against Congolese Gyblai Massenet, less than two minutes.

And then came the final, in which he beat a tough Armenian by ippon at the very end of the bout.

Asked how he felt about winning Canada’s first gold medal, he said, “I can’t explain how I feel, it’s so intense. Especially since this medal comes after six months of rest because of a knee injury. I’m even more pleased that it’s my first Games of La Francophonie.”

Amy’s agility enabled her to make quick work of her opponents as well. As soon as her first match began, she grabbed Lebanese Jane Khalife by the judogi and threw her to the ground in less than 24 seconds.

Her second match was not as easily won as her first, but the 29-year-old athlete managed to confound the tactics of her French opponent, Geraldine Mentouopou, and to throw her to the ground in less than a minute and a half. This second confrontation allowed Amy to face Team Canada Quebec’s Catherine Roberge in the final.

It was a close match, and, after an additional three minutes of sparring, it took a final ruling by the judges to decide a winner. “I am very pleased with my matches today and, of course, with my silver medal at this hotly contested final.”