[Sydney 2000] No gold yet for Korea in judo

There has been no gold medal yet for South Korea in the judo competition of the Sydney Olympics for the past four days.

Cho In-Chul finished with a silver medal after losing to Japan's Makoto Takimoto in the finals of the men's 81-kilogram competition Sept. 19.

Jung Sung-Sook, who was considered the surest candidate for a gold among all Korean judokas, managed to win a bronze in the women's 63-kg division after she suffered a setback to Severine Vandenhende of France in the first round. After the competition, Jung declared she was retiring.

Because the Korean judokas failed to win gold one after another, disgracing the sport's hitherto reputation as ¡°event of filial son,¡± both coaches and players certainly are feeling a heavy burden.

¡°I have nothing to say about the game,¡± Cho said after winning the silver. ¡°I prepared much, so far ... I am very sorry that I could not reward the services of my manager and coaches. I'll be very glad if other players will grab gold medals without fail.¡±

He said he had been desperate to win the first gold in judo.

Joo Sung-Won swon@donga.com