Judo: Bronze and Athens spot for Bryant

Karina Bryant, of Great Britain, claimed bronze at the World Judo Championships in Osaka yesterday with an impressive victory over Cuba's Olympic silver medallist, Daima Beltran.

Bryant absorbed the Cuban's initial attacks, steadily got her favourite grip on and, timing her counter-attack to perfection, banged Beltran squarely on her back - the bronze had been won less than 31 seconds from the start, and with it automatic Olympic qualification.

"I was very pleased. She has always seemed too strong in the past but this time I felt quite comfortable," Bryant, the European heavyweight champion, said.

Only China's former world champion, Sun Fuming - who comfortably won gold - stopped Bryant, winning on penalties. But Bryant picked herself for the repêchage and beat Turkey's Belkis Zeh Kaya and Françoise Harteveld, of the Netherlands, before claiming bronze.