Skelley scoops Judo World Cup silver

ParalympicsGB judo star Chris Skelley admitted it wasn’t his day despite clinching silver at the Atyrau IBSA World Cup in Kazakhstan to win his second career World Cup medal.

The -100kg judoka lost out to Georgian Paralympic gold medallist Zviad Gogotchuri, who is yet to be beaten in the division since moving up a weight category after Rio 2016, in the final.

The Kingston upon Hull born 2017 IBSA European champion will take heart from the competition having beaten the highly-experienced, four-time Paralympian Oleksandr Pominov in the semi-final.

Speaking after the medal ceremony, the 25-year-old was delighted by his performance at the final world ranking event ahead of the 2018 IBSA World Judo Championships in Odivelas, Portugal.

“It’s been a good performance,” he said. ”I had some good fights leading into the final but sadly I lost to a good Georgian.

“I gave him a good fight just sadly it wasn’t my day.”

In the second fight between the pair after Gogotchuri won in emphatic fashion in Antalya in April, Skelley delivered a much stronger performance.

The Georgian responded well to a positive start by the British fighter with his greater power putting Skelley on the back foot.

Eventually the weight of attacks told with Skelley picking up three shidos to finish with silver.

Sportsbeat 2018