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Euan Burton clinched his first medal of 2012 against the sport's elite judoka as the world's top 16 competed at the IJF World Masters in Almaty, Kazkhstan on Sunday (15 Jan)
16th January 2012
In the -81kg category Burton, 32, repeated his 2011 IJF World Masters bronze medal in one of the strongest fields he’ll face all year.
In the first round the two-time world bronze medallist defeated GB World Cup winner Axel Clerget of France by ippon.
Burton followed up by edging 2009 world champion Ivan Nifontov of Russia by yuko.
In the semi-final the British judoka narrowly lost out by yuko to reigning world and Olympic champion Elnur Mammadli of Azerbaijan who went on to win gold.
The defeat saw Burton take bronze as there is no repechage system in place at the Masters or Grand Slam events. The hard-fought result earned the Briton 160 world ranking points as he continues to work towards a top-eight position to be seeded at the Olympic Games.
British Judo Performance Director Daniel Lascau said: “From my point of view Euan’s result shows his consistency in training and I’m delighted to see him win a medal.
"This result really makes it possible for him to be seeded at the Olympic Games and that’s the most important thing for him, to be positioned in the top eight in the world ranking list.”
Euan (-90kg) will be in action again at the 2012 British Closed Championships on Sunday 22 Jan.
He was filmed whilst working with sportscotland institute of sport Strength and Conditioning Coach, Allan MacDonald, in the gym doing an intensive exercise regime. Watch the videos on SSTV - click here to view video clips
