The question is always asked; is it better to come through the repechage, in a winning head space to fight for bronze? After all, suffering defeat in the semi final can make it extremely difficult to be in a positive mindset to fight for the medal. It was answered in the bronze medal contest between Denis VIERU (MDA) and Walide KHYAR (FRA), the latter had been defeated in the quarter final by Gusman KYRGYZBAYEV, and Vieru to the eventual and defending champion, ABE Hifumi (JPN).
Khyar of course was motivated by the home crowd, and was in control for the majority of the bronze medal contest, but in the final minute Vieru came to life and scored his medal-winning waza ari. A deep osoto gari drove Khyar in to the ground for the almighty win.
It has been a difficult year for the Moldovan athlete, pulling out of the Paris Grand Slam, competing in the -73kg category in the Tbilisi Grand Slam and not having the perfect preparation in the year of the Olympic Games. This Olympic bronze is the seventh in history for the Moldovan team across all sports.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen