Montréal, December 2, 2011 – It was a disappointing day for France Blais-Shiokawa and Nicholas Tritton, Friday, at the Judo World Cup presented in Suwon, South Korea. Both Canadian judokas were defeated in their respective first bouts.

In the under 57 kg category, Blais-Shiokawa put up a good fight against the 17^th ranked Spaniard, Conception Bellorin, who eventually went on to win by an ippon.

“France put together a solid performance. The score was tied right up until the last 30 seconds. The Spaniard threw her for a yuko, and was able to immobilize her. France was not able to get free,” Marie Hélène Chisholm, coach of the national contingent in Korea, resumed.

Blais-Shiokawa, who’s been training and studying Japanese at the University of Tokai since early October, was participating in her very first senior world cup competition.

In the under 73 kg class, Tritton, ranked 14^th in the international standings, was defeated by way of an ippon by the Romanian Dan Fasie, currently 22^nd worldwide in the under 66 kg division, and a 5^th place finisher at the world championships in 2009.

“Nick’s positioning was incorrect at the restart, and he didn’t react properly. This mistake cost him the bout, as it got himself thrown to ground,” the Canadian coach explained.

“He will participate at the Japan Grand Slam next week. Korea was more of a tune-up than anything else,” Chisholm pointed out, adding that he would also take part in training sessions on Sunday and Tuesday, before heading over to Japan.

At the Suwon World Cup on Saturday, Amy Cotton and Catherine Roberge will take their turn on the tatamis, in the under 78 kg division.

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Written by Sportcom for Judo Canada