Judo: Nervous wait for Crooks

Sydney - An unlucky Brendon Crooks spent almost three hours anxiously waiting on Saturday, only to find his hopes of extending his Sydney Olympic judo campaign dashed at the last moment.

The Japan-based Aucklander lost his opening bout in the 60kg and under division to European champion Elchin Ismayilov, with the Azerbaijani winning by ippon.

Under the competition format, if Ismayilov got through to the semifinals of the 34-strong event, Crooks would get a second life through the repechage system.

Ismayilov won his next two contests and was in control of his quarterfinal, when suffered a late loss by ippon to Alisher Mukhtarov of Uzbekistan.

Crooks, whose target was get some bouts under his belt and finish in the top half of the competition, was philosophical about the outcome.

``He (Ismayilov) was there until the last moment and he could have got me back in,'' he said. ``But these things happen.''

- NZPA