Judo: Slyfield and Crooks get second chance

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Judokas Timothy Slyfield and Brendon Crooks have been given a rare second chance to go to the Games.

Australia has given two of its competitors "host-card" entries, opening the door to the Kiwi pair as Oceania representatives.

Slyfield, a 25-year-old now training in England, was laid low by a virus when his qualifying tournaments came around. He has a strong record - ranked No 1 in Oceania in the under-81kg class, he has beaten the world and European champions in the past 18 months.

Crooks, aged 29 and based in Japan, was top seed in the under-60kg at the Oceanias, but suffered a shock loss in the semifinals.

Both judokas have been given the thumbs-up by the Oceania body for Olympic entry, but the New Zealand Olympic Committee must make the final decision early next week.

New Zealand so far has two Olympic competitors in judo - Daniel Gowing and Fiona Iredale.

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