Toma misses out on bronze in Abu Dhabi

Judo ace admits he hasn’t been in good shape since Rio Games

Sergiu Toma, the UAE’s Olympic bronze medallist, couldn’t end the medals drought for the hosts on the final day of the Abu Dhabi Judo Grand Slam at the Mubadala Arena yesterday.

Toma went down to Azerbaijan’s Mammadali Mehdiyev in the -90kg repechage contest for bronze. He had earlier lost out to Ukrainian Quedjau Ukrnhabali in the quarter-finals.

“It is disappointing to miss out on the medals, but I managed to get some qualifying points for the Olympics which was good,” said Toma after the fight which he lost by ippon (a full point).

Toma, who had beaten Yahor Varapayeu of Belarus in round one and Islam Bozbeyev of Kazakhstan in round two, said the need of the hour was to look ahead. “I have to make sure to qualify and that’s what I’m bracing for. Olympic Games is my goal and to be there in the best of shape, is what I’m aiming at,” said Toma, accepting that there has been a decline in his performance since the bronze at 2016 Rio Olympics.

“In these two years I have achieved nothing at all. There is nothing to worry though and I will be back at my peak soon. It is a start you can say on the road to Olympics,” said Toma, adding he is likely to go to Osaka, Japan for the last Grand Slam of the year.

“If I can’t make it to Osaka, I will definitely be there for the Paris Grand Slam in 2019,” said Toma,