ahlam1399
08-10-2016, 11:41 PM
Rio de Janeiro: Congolese refugee Popole Misenga won over the Rio Olympic arena Wednesday with one win, followed by a brave loss to the world champion in 90kg mens´ judo.
Misenga, who is part of the unprecedented team of 10 refugees competing under the Olympic flag, defied the odds to defeat India´s Avtar Singh, ranked 71 in the world.
Through to the last 16, Misenga faced Kwak Dong-han of South Korea, the world champion and world number one.
The three-quarters full arena threw itself behind Misenga, who asked for asylum in Brazil in 2013, cheering his every move and booing the referee when a penalty went against him.
For four of the regulation five minute bout, Misenga held his own in a defensive performance sprinkled with attempts to throw the champion. At one stage the crowd loudly chanted: "Popole, Popole!"
The South Korean put an end to the drama with a sudden and almost instant immobilization which had the refugee tapping out for an ippon.
When the opponents rose to their feet to bow, the applause for Popole made it sound as if he had been the winner.
His fellow Congolese refugee Yolande Bukasa was **t so lucky, losing in the first round to Israel´s Linda Bolder, who is 11th ranked in the world and went on to lose in the quarter finals.
Both refugees emerged from the mat beaming with pride in their journey from the horrors of the Democratic Republic of Congo´s war to the Olympic Games.
"I feel great. I heard many people shouting for me: I felt as if I was in my own home," Bukasa said.
Losing, she said, did **t dishearten her.
"These fights are **t just about judo," she said. "This is a fight for my life."
Misenga said his credible showing in fending off the South Korean´s fearsome arsenal of throws, forcing him to go for an immobilization, had inspired him to reach new heights.
"I managed to get in. I fought and won one fight, I fought the champion of the world and he didn´t manage to throw me," Misenga said.
He called having the mostly Brazilian crowd on his side "very emotional."
"Brazil was rooting for me!" he said, disbelievingly.
As for what´s next, Misenga laid down a challenge for himself -- and refugees everywhere -- a challenge.
"I´ll become stronger to face the world champion again," he said. "I´m sending a message to the children of the Congo and to refugees too: believe in yourself."
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/YEor/~4/sFJebbDB5nU
أكثر... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/YEor/~3/sFJebbDB5nU/141556-Congolese-refugee-celebrates-brave-Olympic-judo-showing)
Misenga, who is part of the unprecedented team of 10 refugees competing under the Olympic flag, defied the odds to defeat India´s Avtar Singh, ranked 71 in the world.
Through to the last 16, Misenga faced Kwak Dong-han of South Korea, the world champion and world number one.
The three-quarters full arena threw itself behind Misenga, who asked for asylum in Brazil in 2013, cheering his every move and booing the referee when a penalty went against him.
For four of the regulation five minute bout, Misenga held his own in a defensive performance sprinkled with attempts to throw the champion. At one stage the crowd loudly chanted: "Popole, Popole!"
The South Korean put an end to the drama with a sudden and almost instant immobilization which had the refugee tapping out for an ippon.
When the opponents rose to their feet to bow, the applause for Popole made it sound as if he had been the winner.
His fellow Congolese refugee Yolande Bukasa was **t so lucky, losing in the first round to Israel´s Linda Bolder, who is 11th ranked in the world and went on to lose in the quarter finals.
Both refugees emerged from the mat beaming with pride in their journey from the horrors of the Democratic Republic of Congo´s war to the Olympic Games.
"I feel great. I heard many people shouting for me: I felt as if I was in my own home," Bukasa said.
Losing, she said, did **t dishearten her.
"These fights are **t just about judo," she said. "This is a fight for my life."
Misenga said his credible showing in fending off the South Korean´s fearsome arsenal of throws, forcing him to go for an immobilization, had inspired him to reach new heights.
"I managed to get in. I fought and won one fight, I fought the champion of the world and he didn´t manage to throw me," Misenga said.
He called having the mostly Brazilian crowd on his side "very emotional."
"Brazil was rooting for me!" he said, disbelievingly.
As for what´s next, Misenga laid down a challenge for himself -- and refugees everywhere -- a challenge.
"I´ll become stronger to face the world champion again," he said. "I´m sending a message to the children of the Congo and to refugees too: believe in yourself."
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/YEor/~4/sFJebbDB5nU
أكثر... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/YEor/~3/sFJebbDB5nU/141556-Congolese-refugee-celebrates-brave-Olympic-judo-showing)