Asian tour ends after successful string of performances
29 December 2020Ward falls to 3rd ranked judoka
29 December 2020Montréal, March 22, 2013 – The Quebecoise Audrée Francis-Méthot recorded the best Canadian performance of the day, Friday, at the Pan-American Open in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Competing in the under 52 kg class, the judoka finished in 5th position.
The recipient of a first round bye, Francis-Méthot, who currently sits 45th in the world rankings, lost her opening bout to Lisa Kearny. The Irishwoman, ranked 34th in the under 48 kg division, would go on to claim top honours on the day.
“I was pretty stressed going into the fight because I knew she was really strong. That said, I felt like I had nothing to lose and gave my all, the 20-year-old Sept-Îles native explained. The match was difficult, but quite close overall. There was no points scored and I lost by just a shido. At one point, she had me in an arm lock that I somehow escaped out of, which allowed me to finish the fight. I made a last stand to get back into the bout, but I ran out of time.”
Francis-Méthot was relegated to the repechage, where she took on and defeated the Venezuelan Olinda Ortiz by ippon. “Normally I’m weaker against southpaws, but this time I did pretty well for myself. I scored on an O Soto Gari throw, and the bout was over soon after.”
In the bronze medal bout, the Quebecoise would fall to the Brazilian Andressa Fernandes (93rd), who won with a waza-ari and yuko. “It was a really tough fight. I tried to stick to my strategy, but she always had a hold of my lower sleeve. I’m at my best when I have my hand up high. It definitely wasn’t my best bout, Francis-Méthot indicated. Obviously I would have wanted to walk away with a bronze medal, but 5th is not so bad.”
On the men’s side, no Canadian judoka received a classification.
In the under 60 kg category, Youssef Youssef was eliminated in the second round by the Brit Graham Trinder, who won with a waza-ari. In the first round, Youssef disposed of the Venezuelan Armando Maita.
In the same weight class, Charles Breton-Leduc was beaten in his very first match by the Brazilian Raphael Miaque.
In the under 73 kg division, Michael Fortin-Demers was taken out in the first round by the American Robert Lee.
Saturday, Sarah Myriam Mazouz (-70 kg) and Scott McGrandle (-81 kg) will be the Canadians to watch in Buenos Aires.
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