The Men's and Women's Judo competitions continue on Monday, September 8, at the Workers' Gymnasium, with the Men's -73kg, Men's -81kg, Women's -57kg and Women's -63kg events, and host nation judoka Wang Lijing (China) is firm favorite to take gold in the Women's -57kg class.
Men's -73kg
Favorite
A member of a strong Cuban team, Jorge Hierrezuelo won the 2007 IBSA World Championships in Sao Paulo and was third in the 2006 IBSA World Championships in Brommat, France.
Challengers
Kimura Takayuki (Japan) was a bronze medalist at the 2007 IBSA World Championships, and the absence of any of the -73kg division Athens 2004 Paralympic Games medalists will boost his chances of winning a medal in Beijing.
Also ...
Ukraine's Sergei Sydorenko was also a bronze medalist at the 2007 World Championships, beating Fabian Ramirez (Argentina) in the repechage final. Ramirez, too, will be hoping for a medal in Beijing.
Men's -81kg
Favorites
2004 Paralympic champion Cyril Jonard (France) was subsequently awarded a knighthood in the Legion d'honneur by French President Jacques Chirac in 2004.
Jorge Lencina (Argentina) was second at the 2007 World Championships and the absence from Beijing of the 2007 World Champion Kato Yuji (Japan) will increase his chances of taking gold.
Challengers
Jonard and Lencina can expect a strong challenge from Hungarian Gabor Vincze, a bronze medalist in the Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
Vincze also finished second in a recent IBSA International Judo Competition in Elektrenai in Lithuania in July 2008.
Also...
Cuba's Isao Cruz beat Vincze in the repechage final at the 2007 IBSA World Championships to secure a bronze medal, and will be confident he can win a medal.
Women's -57kg
Favorites
China's Wang Lijing won the 2003 IBSA World Championship in Quebec, Canada, and the 2007 IBSA World Championships and will be a firm favorite.
Challengers
Ramona Brussig (Germany) is the reigning Paralympic Champion, and twin sister of Carmen Brussig who competes in the -48kg class.
Maria Keramida (Greece) lost to Wang in the 2007 World Championships final, but will be hopeful of going one better in Beijing. She beat Ramona Brussig on the way to silver in the 2007 IBSA World Championships.
Also ...
The Athens 2004 bronze medalists, Daniele Silva (Brazil) and Ekaterina Buzmakova (Russia), are also competing. Silva was third at the 2007 IBSA World Championships.
Women's -63kg
Favorites
Elvira Kivi (Sweden) will start as favorite after beating Athens 2004 Paralympic champion Madina Kazakova (Russia) in the 2007 World Championships.
Challengers
2004 Paralympic Champion Kazakova finished third at the 2007 IBSA World Championships and her experience might be enough to secure a podium finish in Beijing.
Also ...
Marta Arce (Spain) and France's Angelique Quessandier who won silver and bronze in Athens in 2004 also have a chance of a medal, as does Naomi Soazo (Venezuela) who was third at the 2007 IBSA World Championships.
(BOCOG September 8, 2008)