Judo: Fallon and Bryant capture silver on final day

Craig Fallon and Karina Bryant turned on the style to give Britain two much-needed silver medals on the last day of the World Championships here in Japan yesterday.

Fallon fought brilliantly to reach the final of the under 60kg category where he was finally defeated by the Olympic silver-medallist, Min Ho Choi, of South Korea. Bryant made it a double celebration by winning silver in the open weight category, one better than the bronze she won on Thursday at over 78kg.

She produced an awesome pick-up technique on Cuba's much heavier Daima Beltran in the semi-final to score the perfect ippon. But in the final, China's Tong Wen proved too big and strong, and turned Bryant on to her back for an inescapable hold down.

The 24-year-old from Camberley did not go without a fight, though, and struggled ferociously for the allotted 25 seconds before the referee declared Wen the winner.

Bryant said: "I felt pretty good all week. I am much stronger than I used to be and I didn't feel overpowered by anyone. But I have to get stronger as I am only 93kg and giving away up to 30kg to some fighters."

Fallon, the 21-year-old sensation who claimed European silver this year as well as wins at the Opens in Paris, Rome and Britain, came up just short of gold.

He faced the darting Choi and could do little but defend against his opponent's superior speed. He tried to hang in but was eventually caught with an inner foot reap for the maximum ippon score.

But already Fallon had showed his quality by defeating Germany's Oliver Gussenberg in the semi-final and Cederic Taymans, of Belgium, the round before - both are seasoned campaigners and Taymans was the runner-up two years ago.

Fallon said: "This year has been such a remarkable one that I came here looking for a medal so I'm happy I won silver."