Judoka Jeong Wins Bronze, Jang Eliminated in Quarters

Jeong Gyeong-mi shows her bronze medal during the victory ceremony at the Beijing Olympics in Beijing, Thurday. / Korea Times

By Jonathan Sanfilippo
Staff Reporter

Jeong Gyeong-mi didn't make it to the championship match in the women's 78-kilogram judo competition at the Beijing Olympics, so she had to settle for the next best thing.

The South Korean judoka won the bronze medal match by beating Edinanci Silva of Brazil Thursday night at the Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium.

Jeong's victory with an ippon 2 minutes, 39 seconds into the match gave her the first Olympic medal of her career. It also brought South Korea its first women's judo medal in eight years.

Jeong won two preliminary matches earlier in the day, before losing in the semifinals to Yalennis Castillo of Cuba. China's Yang Xiuli won the gold by beating Castillo in the final.

Jeong, a 23-year-old student from Yongin University, participated in teakwondo and the shot put before practicing judo.

South Korea's Jang Sung-ho was eliminated from the men's 100-kilogram judo competition with a loss against Levan Zhorzholiani of
Georgia.

jonsanfilippo@koreatimes.co.kr

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