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Aussie judoka Haecker beaten in tense bout

Rob ForsaithAAP
Australia's Katharina Haecker (left) has bowed out of judo competition after a round-of-16 defeat.
Camera IconAustralia's Katharina Haecker (left) has bowed out of judo competition after a round-of-16 defeat. Credit: AP

Australian judoka Katharina Haecker has fallen short of the Tokyo Olympics quarter-finals, losing a tense bout in which her opponent was twice penalised for non-combativity.

Haecker's ippon in golden score was enough to prevail in her round-of-32 clash with Israeli Gili Sharir.

The 28-year-old's ensuing fight also looked set to go to extra time, only for Juul Franssen to score two waza-ari during the final 12 seconds.

Dutch judoka Franssen was cautioned over her unwillingness to engage with Haecker in both the fourth and second minute of the bout.

A third shido for Franssen would have ended the match in the Australian's favour, but it wasn't to be for the Luxembourg-based judoka in the 63kg division.

The result comes two days after Sydneysider Nathan Katz's round-of-16 loss in the men's 66kg division.

The third and final member of Australia's judo team, Aoife Coughlan, will be in action during the women's 70kg competition on Wednesday.

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