Montréal, February 23, 2013 – The Canadian judokas struggled on Saturday, at the Düsseldorf Grand Prix in Germany.  None of the athletes in action were able to register a victory on the day.

In the under 57 kg category, Joliane Melançon, 12^th in the world, lost by ippon to the Romanian Loredana Ohai, 33^rd overall. It was the Frenchwoman Automne Pavia, top judoka in the international standings that would finally get the better of the Romanian in the semi-finals.

Ohai would go on to lose in the bronze medal match, falling to the Korean Jan-Di Kim.

On the men’s side, Patrick Gagné (44^th) fell by way of ippon to the Russian Kamal Khan-Magomedov, who currently sits 21st in the under 66 kg division. Sasha Mehmedovic (27th) was upset by the 66th ranked Romanian Laszlo Szoke.

In the Under 73 kg class, Alexis Morin-Martel, 28th overall, was beaten by the Romanian Costel Danculea. Arthur Margelidon, who sits 83rd in the world, suffered defeat at the hands of the German Julian Kolein.

“It was a tough day today, national coach Nicolas Gill said.  For judokas Arthur Margelidon, Patrick Gagné and Alexis Morin-Martel, it was the last stage of a grueling tour, and we definitely saw signs of fatigue.  These are young athletes who are participating in their very first winter European tour, a segment of the season that is by far the most difficult. In the cases of Joliane and Sasha, they’re both still trying to find their stride after the long, post-Olympic layoff.”

Sunday, Catherine Roberge, 11^th in the world at under 78 kg, along with Kelita Zupancic, 7^th in the under 70 kg division, will be in action. Antoine Valois-Fortier, 12^th in the under 81 kg class, will also be plying his trade on the tatamis.

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