Montreal, February 15, 2009 – Amy Cotton of Judique, N.S., won the bronze medal Sunday at a World Cup judo competition in Vienna.

                      

Cotton, 29, posted victories in three of her four bouts in women’s 78 kilos.  In the third place match, she defeated Xin Li of China by Ippon. It is Canada’s first World Cup medal since the rule regarding the repechages was instilled.

 

‘’I’m pleased because it is very difficult to win medals since the new rule was implemented on January 1,” said Cotton, now based at the Shidokan Club in Montreal.  “The new rule stipulates that there are no repechages until the quarterfinal.  In addition, the field here was very strong with some of the top judokas from South Korea, China and Japan.’’

 

Cotton faced four southpaws.  She opened with a victory over Joseffine Vostry pinning the German.  She then lost by Ippon to Kaleima Antomarchi of Cuba before coming back to win by Yuko over Kumiko Horie of Japan and advance to the third place bout.

 

‘’I fought well against the Chinese girl, I won by Ippon with an arm lock,’’ said Cotton, who competes next week at the Hamburg Grand Prix in Germany.  ‘’I’m pleased with the medal.  The field was strong.  It wasn’t easy.’’

 

 

At a men’s World Cup in Budapest, Alexandre Émond and Scott Edward were the top Canadians posting 1-1 records in 90 kilos and 100 kilos respectively.  Kalem Kachur lost his opening bout in 81 kilos and was eliminated.

 

Émond defeated Ali Darwish of Egypt by Ippon then lost by Yuko to Zviad Gogotchiuri of Georgia. Edward beat Tamas Horvath of Hungary by Ippon before falling by Ippon to Danny Meeuwsen of the Netherlands.  Kachur lost to Grigol Shinikashvili of Georgia.

 

 

No Canadians were ranked in Saturday’s action in Budapest.

 

Sasha Mehmedovic of North York, Ont., was the only Canadian to win a bout.  In 66 kilos he defeated Bence Zambori of Hungary before losing to Rok Draksic of Slovenia.

 

In the same category, Michal Popiel lost his first round bout to Adrian Kulish of Germany.

 

In 60 kilos, Frazer Will of Tisdale Sask., received a first round bye.  The Montreal-based judokas then lost to Kanat Baimbetov of Kazakhstan.

 

In 73 kilos, Nick Tritton of Perth, Ont., lost in the first round to Mazato Inazawa of Japan.