Judo: African Open Championship |16 November 2013

Dugasse returns with gold, Rose wins bronze

Judoka Dominic Dugasse made a triumphant return this week after securing a gold medal for Seychelles at the African Open Championship in Mauritius. Brigitte Rose won a bronze medal.

The two fighters were representing Seychelles in St Louis, Mauritius, where they competed in their respective category against other judokas from Africa as well as other nations outside the continent.

Dugasse, who competed in the -100kg category, told Sports Nation that before the start of the competition he was aiming for the gold, but waited for the draw to know how tough his task would be. In the final, Dugasse met Johan Duckworth of South Africa and he beat his opponent in 35 seconds with an amazing uchi-mata.

He said: “I am very proud of what I have achieved and am looking forward to the Olympic Games qualification cycle. It is my dream to represent my country and I am very grateful to the International Judo Federation for all it is doing to help Seychelles.”

Speaking to Sports Nation Dugasse said: “I am very happy as I have never won something like this before and I am very proud of myself. I was kind of worried when I saw that I was going to face a South African as fighters from South Africa had been winning almost everything, but I held my nerve and managed to get the win.”
Mauritians Hansley Adonis and Stenion Ravina were joint-third.

Brigitte Rose competed in the -78kg category and lost in the semi final against Canadian Sarah Mazouz who went on to lose to Chinese Ding Yuping in the final.

Rose therefore managed a bronze medal performance which she is happy with.
“This is the first time I win a medal in a competition of such a level and I am very happy with my performance. The competition was quite tough, but I feel I performed well since I did not have much time to prepare.”

The two judokas are now gearing up for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, although according to Seychelles Judo Federation chairperson Monique Athanase, nothing has been confirmed yet.

The tournament is expected to take place from November 22-23.

S. N.