Judo: Howey's return consoles British

Despite losing both her contests in Britain's World Team Championships débâcle here on Saturday, Kate Howey was pleased to be back in action.

Suffering from a hangover from the Commonwealth Games, the British team bowed out, losing 11 out of 14 contests. Yet Howey was just happy to fight for the first time since breaking both her tibia and fibula in the final of the British Open in April.

"I think I handled it pretty well out there," she said. "I was not quite match fit which is why I was not as sharp as normal. I should be feeling down but I have taken positives out of this. I have gone five minutes against two world class fighters and I have to be happy with that."

Howey was unlucky in both contests as she lost on penalties given for passivity when she tired late in the bouts. But both her opponents should have been penalised themselves at the start when Howey was dominating.

She was scheduled to fight at the Commonwealth Games for England but after a lengthy selection row was overlooked in favour of the bright, young prospect Samantha Lowe.

The 20-year-old won the Commonwealth title but was forced to step up to light-heavyweight here to accommodate Howey at middleweight.

Neither could muster a victory, though, as Britain lost six wins to nil, with one draw, in the quarter-final against China and then crashed 5-2 against Italy in the repêchage when a chance to fight for bronze was at stake.

However, the team manager, Diane Bell, was not too disappointed. She said: "It came too soon after the Commonwealth Games and a few of our fighters were struggling with their fitness."

In the final, Japan beat Cuba 4-3 in a thrilling seesaw contest that saw the Cubans take the lead three times. Italy and China took the bronze medals against France and South Korea, respectively.