Schlesinger claims judo silver for GB in Minsk

Alice Schlesinger admitted she will always be affected by her acrimonious switch in allegiance after landing a judo silver medal at the European Games in Minsk yesterday.

Schlesinger was beaten in her -63kg final by triple world champion Claressa Agbegnenou in a competition which doubled as both a European Games and European Championship event.

It was the 31-yearold’s biggest success since she split from the Israeli team in rancorous circumstances in the wake of the London 2012 Olympics, and cleared to compete for Team GB two years later.

Schlesinger said: “I think what happened will always be a part of me, and I’m still trying to solve it.

“But I’m really happy with where I am now. I have been through a difficult year with illness.”

Schlesinger is targeting her fourth Olympic Games in Tokyo, having represented Israel in 2008 at the age of 20, and again in 2012 before reaching the second round in 2016 under the British banner.

Olympic bronze medallist Sally Conway crashed out of the -70kg category in her first fight after losing to Ireland’s Megan Fletcher.

It was a disappointing performance from Conway, who came to the Games as one of only four Great Britain athletes with an Olympic medal, and carried the flag at Friday’s opening ceremony.

Great Britain secured another silver medal via Naomi Folkard and Patrick Huston in the archery mixed team recurve competition.

The pair were beaten 5-1 in the final by Italy.

Folkard had teamed with Sarah Bettles and Bryony Pitman to win women’s team gold on Saturday.