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Algerian judoka makes history with bronze medal

Algerian Soraya Haddad made history on Sunday by clinching the bronze medal in the women's 52-kg Judo event.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 12:58 August 11, 2008
  • Gulf News

Beijing: Algerian Soraya Haddad made history on Sunday by clinching the bronze medal in the women's 52-kg Judo event.

Haddad became the first Arab to win a medal in the 2008 Olympics, as well as the first African judoka in Olympic history to place in the top three.

The only non-Asian to advance to the semi-finals, Haddad beat Kazakhstan's Sholpan Kaliyeva to take the first bronze.
"I hope that this medal will open doors for more Africans to come to the Olympics, as it shows we do have the confidence to come and win medals," Haddad said.

China's Xian Dongmei defeated North Korea's An Kum Ae to win the gold and successfully defend her Athens title, while Japanese teenager Misato Nakamura beat Korea's Kim Kyungok to take the second bronze.

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