Sordo and Han Medal on Second Day of Veterans Worlds

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by Bill Kellick

Carlos Sordo (l) stands on the M4 60kg podium with his silver medal (Photo by IJF)

Carlos Sordo (Las Vegas, Nev. / Becerra Judo & Jujitsu Club) and Lincoln Han (Campania, Italy / Kensei Judo) won the first U.S. medals Tuesday during the second day of competition at the International Judo Federation Veterans World Championships in Paris.

Sordo went 4-1 in the M4 (males age 45-49) 60 kg division to claim his fourth career Veterans Worlds medal, having won bronze three times before. He recorded wins by ippon (instant win) over Alessio Meloni (ITA) and Benoit Helouin (FRA) to reach the quarterfinal round. After defeating Alberto Barragan Alvarez (ESP) by yuko in the quarterfinal, and Vincent Mercenier (BEL) by ippon in the semifinal, Sordo was finally defeated in the final by ippon against Cristian Cezario (BRA).

Han's bronze medal was his second at Veterans Worlds and first since winning silver in 2015. He went 5-1 in the M3 (males 40-44) 73 kg competition. Han notched consecutive victories over Arthur Ahmetaj (FRA), Martial Barrot (FRA) and Lionel Dufour (FRA) to reach the quarterfinals. He advanced to the medal round with a win by ippon over Marius Soltanel (ROU). After losing his semifinal match by ippon to Franck Party (FRA), Han rebounded to defeat Mustapha Boulemia (FRA) on a yuko to claim the bronze medal.

Lincoln Han (3rd from right) on the podium with his M3 73kg bronze medal (Photo by IJF)

The U.S. had one other top-8 finish on Tuesday with Nakapan Phungephorn (Annandale, Va. / High Noon Judo) placing fifth in the M4 81 kg division.

Competition at the Veterans Worlds continues through Friday.

Tuesday's top-8 U.S. results are as follows:

Men’s 3 (40-44) 73 kg
1. Valeriane Gigiberia (GEO)
2. Franck Party (FRA)
3. Lincoln Han (USA / Kensei Judo)
3. Bayarmagnai Chinchuluun (MGL)
5. Mustapha Boulemia (FRA)
5. Ivan Zaleskikh (CAN)
7. Xavier Girieud (FRA)
7. Marius Soltanel (ROU)

Men’s 4 (45-49) 60 kg
1. Cristian Cezario (BRA)
2. Carlos Sordo (Las Vegas, Nev. / Becerra Judo & Jujitsu Club)
3. Olivier Finkelstein (FRA)
3. Etienne Vincent (FRA)
5. Steven Blin (FRA)
5. Vincent Mercenier (BEL)
7. Alberto Barragan Alvarez (ESP)
7. Mansur Abbasov (AZE)

Men’s 4 (45-49) 81 kg
1. Flavio Pinheiro (BRA)
2. Guillaume Garcel (FRA)
3. Rodrigo Santana (BRA)
3. Georgi Shishkov (BUL)
5. Nakapan Phungephorn (Annandale, Va. / High Noon Judo)
5. Joel Kocher (SUI)
7. Guillaume Dwleeschauver (FRA)
7. Ilgar Aliheydarov (AZE)

Full Veterans World Championships Results