Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1051772
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 14 NOVEMBER 2018 23 SPORTS JUDO Answers to the MaltaToday crossword will be published next Wednesday WEATHER: Fine VISIBILITY: Good WIND: North Northeast force 2 to 3 becoming variable SEA: Slight SWELL Negligible TODAY MAINLY SUNNY 22 º C /15 º C UV INDEX: 3 TOMORROW PARTLY CLOUDY 22 º C /16 º C UV INDEX: 3 Weather Crossword Across 1. Exhibitionist (4-3) 4. Glitter (7) 8. Correspondence assistants (11) 12. Grant temporary use of (4) 13. Double (4) 14. Hand operated implements (5) 15. Acquire (6) 17. Hot tempered (5) 22. Starchy food grain (4) 23. State in the NW United States (5) 24. Bird of peace (4) 25. Hard to please (5) 28. Procession (6) 30. Pertaining to the pope (5) 32. Smack (4) 34. Animal hunted for food (4) 35. Worthy of respect (11) 38. Petting (7) 39. Move forward (7) Down 1. Motionless (5) 2. Undesirable plant (4) 3. Evergreen tree (3) 5. For each (3) 6. Regretted (4) 7. Staff (9) 8. Rebuff (4) 9. English public school (4) 10. Skilfully (4) 11. Free from doubt (4) 14. Shy (5) 16. Forest (5) 18. Republic in S Asia (5) 19. Artisan (9) 20. Craze (3) 21. Ethical (5) 26. Celestial body (4) 27. Loch (4) 28. Gone by (4) 29. Venture (4) 31. Recurring series (5) 33. Peep (4) 34. Entreaty (4) 36. Writing instrument (3) 37. Help (3) GAMES of Small States of Europe Bronze Medalist, Isaac Bezzina, has made his comeback to Judo with a bang. Isaac Bezzina had suffered quite an ex- tensive injury off the judo mat last year and had to operate his cruciate liga- ments, which kept him away from Judo for months. He started rehab in January, and in July he was back on the tatami (judo mat), adamant to make it to the top as soon as possible. Some weeks ago, accompanied by fa- ther and coach Alex Bezzina, Bezzina spent a week training at the Olympic Training Centre of Malaga, where he had the opportunity to have several randori (free style training) with top athletes from over 19 countries. The first competition on his pro- gramme was nothing less than the Commonwealth Judo Championships in Jaipur, India. The Senior -100kgs was contested by four athletes. Isaac's first match was against Sri Lanka's Bejjara Gadara. The Sri Lan- kan took Bezzina by surprise in the first seconds and scored a wazari (1 point), however Bezzina took back control of the contest and threw the Sri Lankan with a massive Tani-otoshi (valley drop), landing his opponent bang on his back, thus scoring Ippon (full points) and winning the fight. The second match was against the host country's judo star, Avtar Singh, bronze medallist at the Asian Open. Bezzina opened the contest with a massive Ura-nage (rear sacrifice tech- nique), but Avtar managed to turn and land on his face, thus giving no score to Bezzina. A minute later came an attack from Avtar, with an unorthodox technique - a variation of an ura nage - which landed Bezzina on his back, giving an ippon to the Indian. The third match saw Bezzina face another Indian Judoka, Ajay Singh, a former silver medallist at the Asian Cadet Championships. Bezzina wasn't going to settle for bronze, so in less than 15 seconds, he threw Ajay with a beautiful Uchi-mata (inner thigh throw), closing the con- test with an Ippon. This is Bezzina's first senior medal at the Commonwealth Judo Champion- ships. He had won his silver medal in Com- monwealth Junior Judo Champion- ships in Cardiff in 2012. Silver at the Commonwealth Judo Championships This is Bezzina's first senior medal at the Commonwealth Judo Championships