Peter Cousins and Michelle Rogers both made early exits in Thursday’s judo fixtures, with first round defeats in the men’s –100kg and the womens’ –78kg categories.

Cousins, who was first up in the men’s competition looked to be handling Georgian Levan Khorzholiani well, but following a cut to the head, with less than a minute to go it began to look ominous for the Team GB’s remaining male player.

Yet the bandaged Cousins managed to come right back into the competition in the dying seconds of his opening bout to level the score with a yuko a piece.

Going into the Golden Score period Cousins attacked well, but in his efforts to secure the win, Zhorzholiani waited patiently and his second yuko ended the extended period of play.

It was a further blow for Cousins when the Georgian then fell in the next round, ruling out a place in the repechage for the Harlow based man.

A cousin was frustrated to get nothing from a competition where he felt he had made all the running:

“He didn’t really do any attacks at all – If you’re the man doing all the work you should win,” he said.

“I keep the attacks coming – I’m not the biggest guy but I’m a tough fighter.

“I think Zhorzholiani was very tired from fighting me and he fought a guy who I would have beat,” he said in reference to his opponent’s failure to bring him back into the repechage. However he took comfort in the future Olympic opportunities in his own back yard:

 “If I didn’t go to 2012 – it would be like having a party going on next door and I wasn’t invited – In 2012 I’ll be so strong that I won’t have to worry about decisions by  judges.”

In the women’s -78kg competition, despite an aggressive approach from Michelle Rogers, it was sadly not repaid with progression to the next round and she slipped to a narrow defeat, her Korean opponent managing a Koka in the final minute.

It was tough luck for Rogers who had been proactive in her fight - but she was rewarded with a place in the repechage as Jeong then went on to win her next bout.

It was a tough draw for Rogers, facing reigning European Champion Heide Wollert, and the win was taken by the German with a Yuko to Rogers’ Koka, eliminating the Edinburgh athlete.

© David Finch

© David Finch

For further information please contact Emma Taylor on 01509 631695 / 07875032287 or via email emmataylor@britishjudo.org.uk or James Sills on 01509 631670 x230 / 07967957873 or via email jamessills@britishjudo.org.uk