Capital judo players have high hopes after Beijing selection

ONE SCOT and two players based in Edinburgh were yesterday named in Britain's seven-strong judo team for the Olympics, writes NIGEL DUNCAN.

Euan Burton from Tranent, East Lothian, who now lives in Edinburgh, plus Manchester-born Michelle Rogers and Sarah Clark, originally from South Shields on Tyneside, are all medal hopes in China.

Burton, 28, goes in the 81kg division and is a two-time European bronze medallist and a world championship bronze winner.

Rogers, 31, is in the under-78kg division and is also a former bronze medallist from the European Championship. She won her last two World Cup outings.

And Clark, 30, who fights in the 63kg division, is a former US Open gold winner and Commonwealth Games silver medallist. It's likely to be Rogers' and Clark's last chance of Olympic glory.

Both women have only been at one previous Olympics. Rogers competed in Atlanta and poor form meant she missed out on Sydney and Athens. She said: "It's 12 years since I last competed, but I'm much better prepared this time. In Atlanta, I was devastated to go out after losing two fights, but I was up against the Chinese girl who won gold and another girl who finished with the bronze and I lost to both by small scores."

Clark said: "I had two fights in Athens four years ago and lost them both, but I'm much better able to cope this time."

Burton, 28, who trains with Clark at Edinburgh Judo Club, will be experiencing the Olympics for the first time.