Warwick Judo clinch dramatic home victory

Saturday 25 January saw the University of Warwick Judo Club host their annual university-wide competition – and win it.

The individual novice and women’s categories opened the day, as new starters from last term’s beginners course stepped onto the mat for their first competition.

Liam O’Sullivan beat fellow Warwick judoka Eddie Zhang on his way to a gold medal, while Dan Jacklin took the heavyweight gold and Laura Lipante clinched lightweight bronze.

True to form, Sophie Cox dominated her category by winning gold, as Julia Christodoulides, Beth Lindley and Maddy Meatyard all medalled in their intermediate categories.

In the team competitions, players from each weight category form a five-man team and compete against the fighters to form an aggregate result. Warwick entered two teams in the intermediate category, and two teams in the advanced category.

Warwick’s first intermediate team started strongly against a team from Essex University, by beating them in all categories in short fights. The team eventually faced Warwick’s other intermediate team for a place in the final, and won in some closely contested battles.

Sudeep Gurung carried on his form of fantastic foot techniques in his final fight, and Charles MacDonald won a bout that earned him the “Newcombe Throw of the Day Award”, as Warwick placed first and third in the intermediate teams.

The first advanced team lost out to eventual silver-medallists in the first fight of their knock-out competition, as the second advanced team proceeded to eventually earn a spot on the podium in bronze, beneath the winning Oxford team and the runners-up, Edinburgh.

In doing so, Warwick finally recovered the overall trophy back from Birmingham University.