Four Indian judokas in fray for bronze medals

Four Indian judokas were in contention for a bronze medal in the higher weight categories on the third and concluding day of the martial art event here on Saturday.

In the men`s event, Sahil Pathania (upto 100 kg) and Parveen Kumar (+100 kg) will be vying for bronze medal via repechage bouts while Jina Devi Chongtham (upto 78 kg) and Rajwinder Kaur (+78 kg) have also reached the medal round. In his quarterfinal bout, Pathania lost to Jason Koster having conceded three shido penalties and `Ippon`. However quarter-final qualification ensured repechage bouts for Pathania, who knocked out Dominic Dugasse of Seychelles with an `Ippon` within a minute. He will now fight against Tim Slyfield of New Zealand in the bronze medal bout. In the (+100 kg) event, Parveen was `Ippon` ed in the quarterfinal by Kiwi Sam Rosser but won his repechage bout against Gavin McNeill of New Zealand to set up a bronze medal fight with Jake Andrewartha of Australia. In the women`s (upto 78 kg) event, Manipuri Jina Devi is pitted against Hortense Mballa Atangana in the bronze medal clash. In the (+78 kg) event, Rajwinder Kaur won her repechage bout against Canadian Sophie Vaillancourt by virtue of a single Wazari to set up `bronze date` with Kenyan Esther Akinyi Ratugi.