Quellmalz, Restoux Are No Lightweights

German veteran Udo Quellmalz and French newcomer Marie-Claire Restoux won gold medals in the extra-lightweight division of judo.

Quellmalz took the men’s under-143 pound class on a judge’s decision over Japan’s Yukimasa Nakamura.

Restoux outscored Hyun Sook-hee of South Korea in the women’s under-114 1/2 pound final.

Hyun “beat me twice this year,” Restoux said. “But I am glad I took my revenge here.”

Quellmalz, 29, has been near the top in the last seven years. He has been in the top three in the last four world championships and gained a bronze in the 1992 Olympics. He won the 1991 and 1995 world titles.

Restoux won France’s third gold medal of the judo competition and sixth overall. She was a surprise winner of the world title last year as a last-minute substitute.

“We have a very good team. We have a drive to win,” Restoux said. “There is one more day of competition and you can expect more from the French team.”

Marisa Pedulla of Pittsburgh lost to two champions during the day. In the repechage final, she lost to Almudena Munoz of Spain, the 1992 Olympic winner, and missed out on a chance at the bronze medal.

Earlier in the day, Pedulla bowed to Restoux, but the French world champion’s advance to the final allowed the American to continue in the competition.

Orlando Fuentes of Miami lost in the third round to one of the semifinalists, Philip Laats of Belgium.

Fuentes qualified for the repechage, or second-chance round, but lost in the first match to Giorgi Revazishvili of the Republic of Georgia.

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MEDALISTS / Judo

MEN’S HALF-LIGHTWEIGHT

Gold: Udo Quellmaiz, Germany

Silver: Yukimasa Nakamura, Japan

Bronze: Israel Hernandez, Cuba; Henrique Guimares, Brazil

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WOMEN’S HALF-LIGHTWEIGHT

Gold: Marie-Claire Restoux, France

Silver: Hyun Sook-hee, South Korea

Bronze: Noriko Sagawara, Japan; Legna Verdecia, Cuba