Montreal, July 5, 2009 (Sportcom) – Canadian judokas were once again denied a berth in the medal round on Sunday at the Grand Slam judo tournament in Rio de Janeiro.  In women’s 78 kilos both Amy Cotton of Judique, N.S., and Catherine Roberge of Beauport, Que., placed fifth each posting a 1-1 record.

 

Roberge lost to Stéphanie Possamai of France in her second bout.  Possamai, a bronze medallist at the Olympic Games and world championships, scored a waza-ari to clinch the victory.

 

‘’She was very patient,’’ said Roberge.  ‘’She made a move and instead of blocking I should have turned.  She was able to catch my ankle and put me to the ground. If I would have turned we would have both fallen on our knees. I could have won this bout because I was fighting well and she was getting tired. It’s too bad to lose that way but I showed I wasn’t overmatched.’’

 

In the fall, Roberge also suffered a whiplash injury.

 

In the first round, Roberge defeated Claudirene Cesar of Brazil scoring an Ippon in the final 10 seconds.

 

Cotton also opened with a victory over a Brazilian scoring an Ippon at the bout’s mid-way point.  In the second round, the 29-year-old Cotton lost to Heide Wollert of Germany.

 

In men’s 81 kilos, Kalem Kachur of Montreal was not ranked losing his opening bout to 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Flavio Canto who scored an Ippon with 30 seconds remaining.

 

In men’s 100 kilos, Scott Edward of Calgary suffered the same fate as Kachur.  He lost to Askhab Kostoev of Russia who scored a decisive move at the four-minute mark.

 

The Canadian team will remain in Brazil for a World Cup event July 11-12 in Bello Horizonte.