Team GB judo player Craig Fallon just missed out on a battle for bronze on day one of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

The 25-year-old was beating Israel's Gal Yekutiel with just over two minutes of his repechage final contest remaining in today's under-60kg division.

But the Israeli produced two Waza-ari throws in the space of a minute to seal victory and a place in the bronze medal match. Fallon had to settle for seventh. It was the first time he had lost to the Israeli in their fourth meeting.

A disappointed Fallon said: "I'm just so disappointed. I put in all I had, but seventh wasn't what I came here for.

"I got well ahead in the fight, but I felt my legs tire, which was a reflection of how I felt all day," he added. "To get countered from such a comfortable position was obviously disappointing.

"It was nothing to do with my training. My preparations went really well and I comfortably made the weight."

Fallon had started the contest well, scoring a Koka just over a minute into the bout and following that up with a Waza-ari just before the two-minute mark. But the Israeli fought back with two quick scores.

Earlier Fallon had opened his Beijing campaign with a victory over Monaco's Yann Siccardi in just over four minutes. He had already forged a lead through a Yuko score before wrapping the contest up with an Ippon to book a second round contest against Austria's Ludwig Paischer, the reigning European champion.
But Fallon couldn't overcome Paischer - the Austrian won the contest by two Kokas to Fallon's one.

Paischer progressed to the semi-final by beating Korea's Kim Kyong Jin - giving Fallon a second crack at a medal through the repechage.

Fallon made further progress, beating Younes Ahamdi of Morocco by a Waza-ari and a Koka to Ahamdi's Koka. But victory was won at a cost - seven seconds from the end of the bout Fallon suffered a cut above his left eye that required treatment before he could continue.

He followed that up with another victory over the tough Kim Kyong Jin (PRK) - bronze medallist at this year's Asian Championships. Fallon produced a gritty performance to win with a Waza-ari to put him two wins away from a bronze medal.

Israel's Gal Yekutiel was all that stood between Fallon and a battle for a bronze medal. The Israeli was a formidable opponent - he won bronze at last year's European Championships and fifth at this year's.  Yekutiel proved just that bit too good for Fallon.

© David Finch

For further information please contact Emma Taylor on 01509 631695 / 07875 032287 or via email emmataylor@britishjudo.org.uk or James Sills on 01509 631670 x230 / 07967 957873 or via email jamessills@britishjudo.org.uk