Montréal, August 14, 2011 – The cadet World Championships, which unite all the best under 17 judokas in the world, ended in disappointing fashion for the Canadian contingent, Sunday, in Kiev, Ukraine. None of the Canadian judokas in action were able to make it out of the first round.

In the under 90 kg class, the Manitoban Willem Pops was stopped by way of an ippon in his very first fight by the Brazilian, Thiago Chiodi. His teammate, Tarek Elmayergi, also a Manitoba native, suffered the same fate in the under 90 kg category. He was taken down with an ippon in the first round by Snavbar Shanbiew, of Tajikistan.

In the same division, Tommy Hébert-Lemieux was unable to do much better against the Spaniard, Sergio Trillo, who likewise put an end to the Quebecer’s day thanks to another ippon.

On the Women’s side, the Quebecoise, Analaura Portuondo-Isasi, did not achieve any more success then her Canadian teammates. In action in the 70 kg class, she was quickly disposed of by the Kazakh, Zukhara Akkuliyeva.  The combat ended quickly with an ippon, in just one minute and sixteen seconds.

“It was an all around, disappointing day,” national coach Marie-Hélène Chisholm admitted.  We had high hopes for Analaura.  I feel like she froze under pressure.  She never got a chance to show her true abilities on the tatami.  She was more than capable of having a good performance against her first opponent.  Given a little more time in the bout, she would have surely adapted and overcome her nervousness.”

Over in Shenzen, China, where the University Games are being played out, the judoka Stéphanie Tremblay was participating in the under 63 kg division.   The Quebecoise’s day was cut short, though, as she fell to the Romanian, Angela Simona Mara in the first round.

Monday, the Canadians Justin Imagawa (-73 kg) and France Blais-Shiokowa (- 57 kg) will be in action in China.

Junior European Cup

In contrast, two Canadian judokas excelled Sunday, at the junior European Cup presented in Berlin, Germany.

In the under 90 kg class, Marc Deschenes finished fifth by winning three of the five bouts he fought in.  For her part, Catherine Beuchemin-Pinard came away with a seventh place finish in the under 63 kg category.  The Quebecoise also won three of her five fights.

The other Canadians in action did not receive any classification. Marie-Ève de Villers Matte (-70 kg) was able to score one victory before falling in her second round bout.

Alix Renaud-Roy (-70 kg), Miguel Raymond (-90 kg) and Julien Mitchell (-100 kg) were all unable to win their first round matches.

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Written by Sportcom for Judo Canada