Judo medal hopes end in first round

By STEVE RIVERA

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - Alex Ottiano's quest for an Olympic judo medal ended early on Sunday.

Ottiano, a 28-year-old Oneco, Conn., native, fell to third-ranked Magomed Dzhafarov of Russia in the 145-pound half lightweight class at Ano Liossia Olympic Hall.

Ottiano, a four-time national champion, said going into competition that he considered the division a wide-open affair, and he was ready to improve on his second-round elimination at the 2000 Sydney Games.

But Sunday it was not to be - although he tried everything against Dzhafarov, dictating the pace by being the aggressor throughout.

``I felt OK, but I just didn't feel any opening in my throws there,'' a disappointed Ottiano said.

It didn't help that Dzhafarov seemed to sit back in a defensive mode. ``I just couldn't get a good grip (on him) so I couldn't get an attack off,'' Ottian said.

Ottian's chance to return for an attempt at a bronze medal in the - called the repechage - ended because Dzhafarov fell short of the semifinals, losing to Japan's Masato Uchishiba in the quarterfinals, thus ending Ottiano's bid for a medal.