Cutajar happy with Osaka third, by Mike Gandon - 28th November 2007
(Credit: Illawarra Mercury)

Wollongong judo player Mick Cutajar finished third in his division at the 15th Osaka international goodwill contest at the Ancient Osaka Castle in Japan last weekend.

This was Cutajar's highest placing at a contest in Japan.

"Overall I had done more than I expected," Cutajar said yesterday.

"I feel this has redeemed the disappointment of the judging at last month's World Cup that robbed me of a place.
"I did use this to motivate a drive to succeed in this event."

More than 250 players from several countries including the powerhouses of judo, Korea, Japan and Brazil took part.
The event was set in age divisions and not a weight contest and was held under international rules.

Cutajar contested a division of 44 players split into two pools and his first match was against Brazilian judo/jujitsu player De-Almeida Nilson which he won with ippon (knockout) to move to the second round.

Cutajar was to take on another Brazilian Calasana Wagner but he won by no show to advance to the third round.
His next opponent was Irish player Mark Donnellan, who weighed over 120kg, and who he beat by ippon to move into the semi-finals for the first time in a contest in Japan.

Cutajar's fourth fight was against a Korean player who had won the contest on two past occasions and had been runner-up twice before.

This contest went to the bell with Cutajar winning by two scores of yuko and one koka and a place in the finals.
The final was against another Korean who had dominated this event from the start and who then went on to win gold.

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