Day Two Round-up – Oates Takes Strong Seventh

Colin Oates took seventh place in the men’s -66kg category despite claiming the scalp of world number two on the second day of the London 2012 Olympics, whilst Sophie Cox suffered an exit in the first round.

Oates began his campaign with a victory of Australian Ivo Dos Santos by two yukos to the home crowd’s delight.

This set up a meeting with world number two and 2004 Athens Olympic bronze medallist Tsagaanbaatar Khashbaatar, with Oates being seen as a firm underdog. However, he showed his quality, holding his own for the majority of the contest before throwing the Mongolian for yuko with just six seconds left on the clock.

The quarter final was a tense affair, going to golden score, but Colin was held down for ippon by the eventual gold medallist Lasha Shavdatuashvili.

The repecharge saw Oates up against Jun-Ho Cho of Korea, but he went down by two yukos to come home seventh place.

Afterwards, Oates said: “It was disappointing for me, I think I may have fought the best I’d ever fought today – I think the Mongolian fighter I faced in the second round has been the most consistent and best fighter in my weight category over the last few years.

“He’s been world champion, won world bronze and been at the top of the rankings so it was a really good win to get past him.

“In the fight against Georgian Shavdatuashvili I went for a big score, it was make or break and I got caught.

“The atmosphere has been phenomenal and I really hope it spurs on the rest of the guys and girls to take a medal because with that behind them we have great fights and as you’ve seen today upsets are there for the taking.”

Sophie Cox suffered a tough draw against Kum Ae An and after going down by yuko early on in the contest, couldn’t break through the Korean’s defence. Ae An went on to win gold later in the day.

Cox felt the draw had not been kind to Team GB, saying: “I have found over the last couple of years if I can get through my first fight, then I can go on to do well, so this one was make or break.

“I did not worry beforehand she was an Olympic silver medallist, I just went out there to fight my own fight.

“But I just could not get it right and it was a tough draw. I felt fit and strong, it just did not happen today.”

She said: “I might be 29, but I still feel 25 in judo terms, but I will take a couple of months to take a look at things and see how British Judo want to go, but I will keep all doors open.

“It did give me a really good buzz, even when I came off, they were still cheering, and that is amazing.”