Guo Huaping and Cui Na Dominate Judo Mat

Source: Xinhua | 09-08-2008 10:38

China received double happiness in judo as it wrapped up the two golds in women's competition at the Beijing Paralympics on Sunday.

Guo Huaping and Cui Na both surprised their coaches and themselves after winning the women's -48kg and -52 kg divisions.

Guo Huaping overwhelms Brazilian Karla Cardoso, silver medalist at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, by an ippon on Sunday, September 7, 2008. [Photo: Xinhua]

Guo overwhelmed Brazilian Karla Cardoso, silver medalist at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, by an ippon.

The 27-year-old from a farmer's family in east China's Jiangxi Province participated in the Athens Games where the women's judo made its Paralympic debut and finished fifth.

Guo started strongly to throw Cardoso for yuko in the final while the Brazilian could hardly cope with the aggressive rival. A determined Guo ended the match after throwing Cardoso for ippon.

Earlier, Carmen Brussig from Germany and Russian Victotia Potapova conquered the bronze medals.

"I didn't do well in Athens 2004, because I was too nervous since it was my first major competition. I worked very hard in the past four years, but I didn't expect a gold medal. I was just thinking to make the top three," said Guo. "I have no time to call my families so far, but I can't wait to share my happiness with them."

Less than six minutes after Guo's inspiring triumph, her teammate Cui Na defeated Sandrine Aurieres-Martinet from France in women's -52 division.

Cui, a Paralympic debutant, won over the stubborn French rival by waza-ari 30 seconds before the five-minute bout ended.

The 19-year-old, who plans to extend her golden trip to London in 2012, took the gold not only as a reward to her own effort, but a morale booster for all disabled people in China.

"I've been training for seven years. It's very hard. This is the first gold medal for our country in the -52kg division. I think it's a breakthrough," she said. "I also want to say, although we are disabled, we have very strong minds."

The bronze medals went to Russia's Alesya Stepanyuk who beat the Japanese Minako Tsuchiya by awasete ippon, while Brazilian Michelle Ferreira overcame Sheila Hernandez from Spain by ippon.