Christella Garcia Places Fifth in her Blind World Championship Debut By Nicole Jomantas - USA Judo COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.- August 3, 2007 – Although Christella Garcia (Chicago, Ill. / Tohkon Judo) picked up judo less than two years ago, the 28-year-old totally blind player appears to have been a quick study, placing fifth in the 63kg division at her first World Blind Judo Championships in Sao Paulo on Thursday.
After a first-round loss to eventual champion Elvira Kivi (SWE), Garcia dropped down to the repechage where she beat Chui Man Tang (HGK) and Angelique Quessandier (FRA), a bronze medalist at the 2004 Paralympic Games and 2006 World Championships.
In the bronze medal match, Garcia lost to Naomi Soazo (VEN) to place fifth.
One of the most watched athletes coming into this event, 2000 Paralympic gold medalist Scott Moore (Englewood, Colo. / Denver Judo) had a familiar draw in the 73kg division with a first-round bye and a second round against Wang Yunfeng (CHN) who beat Moore during the early rounds of the 2004 Paralympic Games en route to winning the gold while Moore earned his second Paralympic bronze.
Yunfeng won this matchup as well and Moore continued his fight for bronze with a win in the repechage over Jorge Balbona (ESP). In the next round, though, Moore lost to Takayuki Kimura (JPN) to place ninth overall.
Athens Paralympian Scott Jones (Little Rock, Ark. / Little Rock Judo) repeated his 2006 World Championship result, placing seventh in the 81kg division.
After a first-round bye, Jones lost in the second round to Reinaldo Carvallo (VEN).
In the repechage, Jones defeated Dashtseren Ganbat (MGL), but lost to 2004 Paralympic medalist Gabor Vincze (HUN).
Tina Thomas (Los Angeles, Calif. / Lacosta Judo) was winless in the 48kg division, losing first to Carmen Brussig (GER), the reigning Paralympic and World Champion.
In the repechage, Thomas lost to Maria Gonzalez (CUB).
Individual competition concludes on Friday with Myles Porter (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center / 100kg), LisaMaria Martinez (Union City, Calif. / 70kg), Greg DeWall (Chico, Calif. / +100kg) and Andre Watson (Upper Darby, Pa. / Liberty Bell Judo / 90kg).
Complete results are as follows:
Women’s 48kg 1. Carmen Brussig (GER) 2. Karla Cardoso (BRA) 3. Karima Medjeded (FRA) 3. Guo Huaping (CHN) 5. Maria Gonzalez (CUB) 5. Victoria Potapova (RUS)
Also Competed: Tina Thomas (Los Angeles, Calif. / Lacosta Judo), 0-2
Women’s 63kg 1. Elvira Kivi (SWE) 2. Marta Arce (ESP) 3. Naomi Soazo (VEN) 3. Madina Kazakova (RUS) 5. Christella Garcia (Chicago, Ill. / Tohkon Judo) 5. Zhou Qian (CHN)
Men’s 73kg 1. Jorge Hierrezuelo (CUB) 2. Wang Yunfeng (CHN) 3. Takayuki Kimura (JPN) 3. Sydorenko Serg II (UKR) 5. Fabian Ramirez (ARG) 5. Jani Kallunki (FIN)
Also competed: Scott Moore (Englewood, Colo. / Denver Judo), 1-2
, 
