NEW DELHI, AUGUST 11: Judoka L Brojeshori Devi readied herself for next month's Sydney Olympic Games with a deserving silver medal at the Vietnam International Judo tournament at Ho Chi Minh city early this week.The only judoka in the Indian Olympic contingent, Brojeshori weathered strong challenge from Japanese and Vietnamese rivals to lead India to a respectable fourth position in the overall standings.The 14-member (seven each of men and women) Indian team bagged 11 medals - four silver and seven bronze - in a creditable showing in which the world's strongest team Japan clinched the team championship.Brojeshori will take a few days rest before heading for Patiala on August 16 to attend National camp for Olympics' preperation, her personal coach Deven Moirangthem said.The 19-year-old National champion, who is working with CRPF, has been giving consistent performance this year.``Going by her form I expect her to make it to the quarter-finals in the Sydney Games next month,'' Moirangthem said.``She has performed to the best of ability in one of the strongest fields available. Japan and Korea and the world leaders, but in Olympics a powerful French team will be there,'' he said while analysing Brojeshori's chances. The Manipuri girl had managed a fifth place at the Asiando Championships 2000 at Osaka, Japan from June 20 to 23.Having got clearance from India Olympic Association, she is scheduled to leave for Down Under on September 7.Apart from Brojeshori, Landhoni Devi clinched silver in Under-63 kg class while two men also had second place finish.Poonam Chopra (Under-57 kg class), Parwinder Kaur (U-70), Dinan Riza Chanu (U-78) and Bittu (U-78) all took bronze medals.In the men's, Akram Shah (Under-60 kg) landed silver medal and in the Under-100 class Samuder Singh Tukas also managed a similar showing.Bhupinder Singh (U-66), Yashpal Solanki (U-81) and Narender Singh Gulia (U-90) were the bronze medal winners.In the 13-nation tournament that ended on Wednesday, Japan took the team honours with 13 medals (7 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze).Korea settled for runners-up tag with as many medal as Japan but fell one short in winning the yellow metal from upstaging the world beaters. Korea's 13 medals (6 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze), however, signalled a stiff competition in the offing next month in Sydney.Chinese Taipei settled for third place with six medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze) pushing India to fourth place.In the last international event before the September 15-October 1 Olympic Games, Indonesia withdrew due to financial constraints. Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Laos, Macau, Malaysia were the other countries participating with the hosts fielding four teams.
