Cui Na won China's second gold of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games at the Worker's Gymnasium on Sunday, September 7, defeating Sandrine Aurieres-Martinet (France) by waza-ari in a closely contested match to take the Women's -52kg title.
She joins Guo Huaping (China) as a Paralympic Champion after Guo had won gold in the -48kg class moments earlier.
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Guo Huaping celebrates her victory. [Xinhua Photo] |
The Chinese judoka took an early lead with a couple of kokas and a shido penalty against Aurieres-Martinet. But the French judoka responded by throwing Cui for yuko as the two tumbled off the edge of the mat. With 37 seconds remaining, however, Cui managed to bring down Aurieres-Martinet for waza-ari and held on for victory.
Cui's only other match was a win by yuko over Brazil's Michelle Ferreira in what was effectively the semifinal, after receiving a first round bye.
Aurieres-Martinet earlier beat Thi Nhoi Trieu (Vietnam) and Russia's Alesya Stepanyuka, both by ippon, to reach the final.
The bronze medals went to Stepanyuka who beat Japan's Tsuchiya Minako by awasete ippon, while Ferreira overcame Sheila Hernandez (Spain) by ippon.
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Cui Na celebrates her victory. [Xinhua Photo] |
(BOCOG September 7, 2008)