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Olympic champ Tong wins 4th world title

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-01 10:45

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands: Olympic champion Tong Wen of China won the women's +78kg gold medal at the judo World Championships on Sunday after beating Karina Bryant of Britain in the final by ippon.

Tong Wen of China embraces her coach, Wu Weifeng, after her win over Karina Bryant of Britain in the over 78kg women's fi nal during the Judo World Championships in Rotterdam on Sunday. It was Tong's fourth straight world title. [Agencies]

The bronzes went to Cuba's Idalis Ortiz Boucurt and Japan's Maki Tsukada.

It was Tong's fourth straight world title in the event since 2003. She said her next target was to win the Asian Games title next year in Guangzhou.

"I think I performed very well throughout the whole competition. I have achieved a lot in the sport, but my goal is to prove it each time and to keep progressing, to become better and better," she said.

"The power is the beauty of judo. Hopefully, the Chinese will be inspired by the success and I hope Chinese judo grows. I hope to perform at the Asian Games in Guangzhou and win a gold medal."

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Meanwhile, powerhouse Japan came home without having won a gold medal in the men's events for the first time at a Judo World Championships after national champions Takamasa Anai and Yasuyuki Muneta were defeated on the final day of competition. Double world champion Muneta missed out on a medal when he suffered a third-round loss to Mongolia's Gankhuyag Dorjpalam in their +100kg bout, while Anai was knocked oout in the men's 100kg quarterfinals.