The Abbotsford Judo Club returned home from Calgary with a handful of medals at the 2018 Canadian Nationals in May.
The event, which ran from May 17 to 20, saw the AJC earn seven medals.
Taking home gold was Abbotsford’s Isabelle Harris, who finished first in the U18 female 63 kilograms division. Harris received a bye in round one of the tournament and then posted 10-0 wins over Quebec’s Florianne Beignet, Quebec’s Matilde Martin, B.C.’s Jordann Warner and then Quebec’s Ihem Ouau in the final.
The AJC’s Mitchell Wolfe was the other local gold-medal winner at the event, taking home top spot in the senior male 66 kg division. Wolfe earned a bye in round one of the tournament, and then beat Quebec’s Bogdan Jora (10-0), Ontario’s Christian Dametto (10-0), Quebec’s Gabriel Juteau (10-0) and Quebec’s Julien Frascadore 5-0 in the gold medal match. Wolfe also earned a bronze in the U21 male 66 kg division.
Other AJC members earning medals in Calgary were: Turner Cyr (bronze, U18 male 66 kg), Payton Harris (bronze, U18 male 81 kg and bronze U21 81 kg) and Launa Hinton (bronze, U21 female 52 kg).
The next big event for AJC members is the Canada Cup, which occurs in Montreal from June 29 to July 1.
In other local combat sports news, Abbotsford’s Jasmit Phulka from the Miri Piri Wrestling Club won gold at the City of Sassari Wrestling Championship in Italy last weekend.
Phulka took home top spot in the male 74 kg freestyle division and dominated all four matches he competed in.
He won his preliminary bout 10-0 over Spain’s Augustin Lopez, beat Spain’s Rafa Mota 4-0 in the quarterfinals, defeated Spain’s Jonathan Alvarez 9-2 in the semifinal and then blanked South Korea’s Jie-Woon Shin 4-0 to capture the gold.
Phulka next travels to Mongolia later this month for a one week training camp and competition. For more information on his win in Italy, visit unitedworldwrestling.org.