Xian, who eased into the final with three straight ippon victories, lit up the gymnasium when she threw Russian Oxana Karzakova for the fourth ippon to take the women's under 52kg class. The bronze medal was shared by French Ellentie Merle and An Kum Ae of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

In contrast to Xian's easy win, world champion Yurisleidis Lupetey of Cuba overcame tough challenge from Japan's Chika Nonaka to grab the women's under 57kg class gold. Lupetey, who quickly subdued four previous rivals, three by ippon, encountered Nonaka in the final. The 20-year-old Cuban managed to win the close bout by two yuko against one koka.

Chinese Zheng Linli snatched a bronze through the repechage and Michaela Vernerova of Czech Republic captured the other.

On the men's side, Russian Magame Djafarov triumphed in the under 66kg category and Egamnazar Akbarov of Uzbekistan claimed the men's under 73kg class title. Djafarov, silver-medalist of the 1996 World Youth Judo Championships, took his first major title after beating Murat Kalikulov of Uzekistan by ippon in the final.

Franck Bellard of France and Yugoslavia's Milos Mijalkovic shared the bronze medal.

Choi Young-Sin of South Korea, who looked almost to win the final with only 13 seconds remaining, fell victim to a late throw by Akbarov and had to settle for the silver.

The bronze medal went to Pak Chol Soo from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Kanstantsi Siamionau of Belarus.

Today's competition also saw the defeats of two bronze winners of the 2001 World Judo Championships.

Krzysztof Wilkomirski of Poland was knocked out in the preliminary rounds, while another upset victim was Cuban Yordani Arencibia, who suffered an early defeat by Frederic Georgery of Belgium.

(People's Daily 08/26/2001)