Montreal, November 8, 2009 – Bianca Ockedahl of Montreal won her two bouts this weekend to claim the gold medal in women’s 48 kilos at an EJU judo tournament in Vantaa, Finland this weekend.  

 

Ockedahl defeated Ann Shiraishi of U.S., by Yuko and Marie-Pier Gauvreau of Varennes, Que., on decision.  Gauvreau, who beat Shiraishi by Yuko in overtime, took the silver.

 

The tournament winners pocketed 1,000 Euros apiece if there were at least eight entries in the category.  Ockedahl received 250 Euros because there were only three participants in her weight class.

 

‘’They knew all week they were the only three entries,’’ said Canadian coach Marie-Hélène Chisholm.  ‘’The girls approached the tournament as additional training.  Marie-Pier had lost to the American recently so it was very encouraging performance for her.’’

 

In men’s 81 kilos, Justin Fumiya Imagawa of Steveston, B.C., earned three victories in five bouts to place fifth.  He won his first bout in a walkover because his opponent did not show up.

 

Imagawa defeated Llya Naumov of Russia by Yuko in overtime before falling to crowd favorite and eventual champion Antti Virta of Finland by Yuko.  In the repechage he scored Ippon victories over Conny Isgren of Sweden and Francisco Campos Balsco of Spain to advance to the bronze medal bout.

 

He lost by two Waza-aris to Muka Toroi of Finland.  ‘’Justin had a great day and displayed a great attitude,’’ said Chisholm.  ‘’He was nervous in his bronze medal match and therefore wasn’t as aggressive.’’

 

In men’s 73 kilos, Olivier Aubin-Mercier of St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que., posted a 2-2 record.  He opened with a victory over Alexander Bakke of Denmark by Waza-Ari then lost by Yuko to Ugo Legrand of France.

 

Aubin-Mercier rebounded with a victory over Petja Lindstrom of Finland by Ippon before falling to David Flecha Diez by Waza-Ari after he was assessed three penalties. Legrand took the gold and Flecha Diez the bronze.

 

In men’s 100 kilos, Stefan Zwiers of Vancouver posted his first career international win defeating Sander Maripuu of Estonia by Yuko.  Zwiers opened with a loss to Nicandro Buono of Italy and lost his third match by Ippon to Viktors Reshko of Latvia.

 

Charles Breton-Leduc of Trois-Rivieres, Que., and Cole Hunt of Winnipeg were winless in Finland losing one bout and two bouts respectively in men’s 60 kilos and 100 kilos.

 

 

 

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Written by Sportcom for Judo Canada