Charlton’s Olympic silver medallist Gemma Gibbons finished seventh in the -78kg category at the world judo championships in Kazakhstan.
After getting the better of American Samantha Bleier in her opening fight, she produced some outstanding judo to come from behind and defeat North Korea’s former world champion Kyong Sol to book a spot in the quarter-finals.
Gibbons would come undone against Anamari Velensek (Slovenia) in the last eight, but was still in with a chance of medalling through the repechage.
However, four shidos to her name in her next contest ensured Marhide Verkerk of the Netherlands would fight for bronze.
Gibbons said: “All in all I have mixed feelings.
“This is the first time I placed at a world championships, so that’s nice.
“But I didn’t come here to place, I came here to medal.
“I am pretty frustrated for not being able to turn my last two fights into wins.
“However, I think the result shows I am getting better and getting back to the level I know I can be, and the level where it is a very small margin whether I am on the podium or not.”
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