Canada's Beauchemin-Pinard wins silver medal at judo world championships
Japan's Haruka Kaju, unbeaten since her World Judo Tour debut last year, withstood Beauchemin-Pinard's ground game and scored a pin for ippon — or full point — in 'golden score' sudden death.
It was the second world championship silver for Beauchemin-Pinard, who also finished runner-up in 2022.
The 30-year-old from Montreal also won bronze in the weight class at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2019 and 2020 Pan American championships.
Beauchemin-Pinard, who had a bye in the first round, beat South Africa's Jasmine Martin, Slovenia's Kaja Kajzer, Mongolia's Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo and Brazil's Rafaela Silva en route to the final.
Three of her four wins came by ippon, but she couldn't continue her dominance against the Japanese rising star.
'It's still really fresh and I think it's going to take me a few more days to digest this defeat, because I felt I could have beaten (Kaju),' Beauchemin-Pinard said.
Still, Beauchemin-Pinard said she was proud to reach the podium.
'I'm thrilled with my result,' she said. 'Obviously, immediately after the fight, I was disappointed because the gold medal was well within reach. I felt like I'd lost the gold rather than won silver, but as the day went on, I realized that I had put in a great day's fighting.'
In other action, François Gauthier-Drapeau of Alma, Que., lost his first bout in the under-81 kg category to Zaur Dvalashvili of Georgia.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
41 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Japan's Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda pull away from the field at Women's British Open
PORTHCAWL, Wales (AP) — Miyu Yamashita started and finished with short birdie putts and was flawless in between as she posted a 7-under 65 on Friday to build a three-shot lead over Rio Takeda going into the weekend of the Women's British Open. The Japanese players, both among the top 15 in the women's world ranking, played in the same group at Royal Porthcawl and put on a show in the second round, matching great shots and big putts along the way that left the rest of the field far behind. Takeda was the only player within seven shots of Yamashita. Nelly Korda (72) and rising English star Lottie Woad (70) were among the top 10 on the leaderboard and still nine shots behind at the halfway point. Woad was on the cusp of contention until a triple bogey on the par-4 16th. 'There was a lot more good in it than bad,' Woad said. 'Played really well for 17 holes, just that one hole cost me a bit.' Yamashita was bogey-free and did most of her damage with four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn as she took advantage of an early start before stronger wind arrived. 'I didn't make any particular adjustments to my swing, but the wind was strong, so I think shots are important, as well as club selection and the direction I aim at the target,' Yamashita said. 'So things like that are important, so I played while keeping in mind the image I've been practicing so far.' Takeda, whose two LPGA titles include the Toto Japan Classic last year before she was a member, was slowed by a pair of bogeys. Takeda atoned for that with a superb approach into the par-5 ninth that settled within tap-in range for eagle. She shot 69. 'I was able to play calmly today, and I hope to focus on my game and play calmly again tomorrow,' Takeda said. Yamashita, who celebrates her 24th birthday on Saturday, was at 11-under 133. Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland and Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand each shot 69 and were tied for third at 4-under 140, along with American Lindy Duncan (70). The cut was shaping up to be at 2-over 146. Brooke Henderson of Canada was right on the cut line until missing a 4-foot par putt on the windblown 17th, and then failing to make birdie on the par-5 closing hole. Also missing the cut were world No. 4 Ruoning Yin (77(, Rose Zhang (76) and U.S. Women's Open champion Maja Stark (78). Korda remains the No. 1 player in women's golf despite not winning this year, and she now faces a tall order with a nine-shot deficit for the last 36 holes. 'Honestly didn't really capitalize on anything in the calmer conditions on the front nine, then kind of got really windy on the back,' Korda said. 'Made a few more mistakes but bounced back with some birdies. Overall, I'm not going to complain with even par.' Woad made the best run at the Japanese duo until one swing and one nasty lie cost her. She had a 3-wood for her second shot into a strong wind on the par-4 16th. It sailed to the right into thick grass. Her first hack moved the golf ball only a few inches. She had to take a penalty shot for an unplayable lie, got that one on the green and two-putted for a triple bogey. She closed with two pars for a 70, a score that otherwise would seem satisfactory. 'I'd certainly take it now, but not when I was standing on the 16th tee,' Woad said with a smile. 'Yeah, just got to try to play well over the weekend. It's pretty packed, so I can move up a bit.' Everyone is chasing Yamashita, who led the Japan LPGA money list in 2022 and 2023 while winning five times in each of those seasons. She also finished one shot out of a playoff for the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics last year. For now, she is thinking only about keeping her rhythm in the wind. 'I haven't particularly worried about expected scores until now. I'm always thinking about competing for a high ranking in each tournament, and I just played with my day in mind,' Yamashita said. 'So I'm glad that my score and ranking worked out.'
Fox Sports
41 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Japan's Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda pull away from the field at Women's British Open
Associated Press PORTHCAWL, Wales (AP) — Miyu Yamashita started and finished with short birdie putts and was flawless in between as she posted a 7-under 65 on Friday to build a three-shot lead over Rio Takeda going into the weekend of the Women's British Open. The Japanese players, both among the top 15 in the women's world ranking, played in the same group at Royal Porthcawl and put on a show in the second round, matching great shots and big putts along the way that left the rest of the field far behind. Takeda was the only player within seven shots of Yamashita. Nelly Korda (72) and rising English star Lottie Woad (70) were among the top 10 on the leaderboard and still nine shots behind at the halfway point. Woad was on the cusp of contention until a triple bogey on the par-4 16th. 'There was a lot more good in it than bad,' Woad said. 'Played really well for 17 holes, just that one hole cost me a bit.' Yamashita was bogey-free and did most of her damage with four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn as she took advantage of an early start before stronger wind arrived. 'I didn't make any particular adjustments to my swing, but the wind was strong, so I think shots are important, as well as club selection and the direction I aim at the target,' Yamashita said. 'So things like that are important, so I played while keeping in mind the image I've been practicing so far.' Takeda, whose two LPGA titles include the Toto Japan Classic last year before she was a member, was slowed by a pair of bogeys. Takeda atoned for that with a superb approach into the par-5 ninth that settled within tap-in range for eagle. She shot 69. 'I was able to play calmly today, and I hope to focus on my game and play calmly again tomorrow,' Takeda said. Yamashita, who celebrates her 24th birthday on Saturday, was at 11-under 133. Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland and Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand each shot 69 and were tied for third at 4-under 140, along with American Lindy Duncan (70). The cut was shaping up to be at 2-over 146. Brooke Henderson of Canada was right on the cut line until missing a 4-foot par putt on the windblown 17th, and then failing to make birdie on the par-5 closing hole. Also missing the cut were world No. 4 Ruoning Yin (77(, Rose Zhang (76) and U.S. Women's Open champion Maja Stark (78). Korda remains the No. 1 player in women's golf despite not winning this year, and she now faces a tall order with a nine-shot deficit for the last 36 holes. 'Honestly didn't really capitalize on anything in the calmer conditions on the front nine, then kind of got really windy on the back,' Korda said. 'Made a few more mistakes but bounced back with some birdies. Overall, I'm not going to complain with even par.' Woad made the best run at the Japanese duo until one swing and one nasty lie cost her. She had a 3-wood for her second shot into a strong wind on the par-4 16th. It sailed to the right into thick grass. Her first hack moved the golf ball only a few inches. She had to take a penalty shot for an unplayable lie, got that one on the green and two-putted for a triple bogey. She closed with two pars for a 70, a score that otherwise would seem satisfactory. 'I'd certainly take it now, but not when I was standing on the 16th tee,' Woad said with a smile. 'Yeah, just got to try to play well over the weekend. It's pretty packed, so I can move up a bit.' Everyone is chasing Yamashita, who led the Japan LPGA money list in 2022 and 2023 while winning five times in each of those seasons. She also finished one shot out of a playoff for the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics last year. For now, she is thinking only about keeping her rhythm in the wind. 'I haven't particularly worried about expected scores until now. I'm always thinking about competing for a high ranking in each tournament, and I just played with my day in mind,' Yamashita said. 'So I'm glad that my score and ranking worked out.' ___ AP golf:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
This gay Olympic figure skater just proposed to his boyfriend and 'he said yes'
We could all use an injection of joy right now, and lucky for us, love is in the air! Out gay Olympic figure skater Paul Poirier just proposed to his boyfriend and shared the happy news with the rest of the world with a cute Instagram post of the two men showing off their new engagement rings. 'We did a thing (he said yes),' Poirier wrote on social media, announcing his engagement to boyfriend Kevin. Poirier's figure skating partner, Piper Gilles, was one of the first to congratulate the lovebirds, commenting, 'So happy for you two!! You've deserved all the love.' The 33-year-old world champion shared the news with those closest to him before making the announcement public. The couple has yet to announce a wedding date. 'It was a very casual proposal at home during our evening routine,' Poirier told Outsports. 'It was really nice to share that quiet moment together, and then to share the news with our families and closest friends. We're both very excited!' It takes a lot of guts to come out as an athlete. Luckily, more and more LGBTQ+ Olympic athletes are taking the plunge. In fact, four Olympic athletes kissed their partners in front of the world during the last Olympics, six lesbian couples who competed at the Paris Olympics, and gold medalist Jade Carey hard launched her new girlfriend just this past March. Poirier may be a fairly private person and a bit of an introvert, but he came out publicly back in 2021, a year ahead of going to the Beijing Winter Olympics. '[Being a gay athlete] hasn't been something that I've really talked about very much, especially in a public setting,' Poirier said at the time. 'I've had this attitude that my private life is my private life and my life outside of skating is my life outside of skating. I haven't necessarily allowed all of those things to [blend] together. I think with the lead-up to the Olympic Games in the next year, I definitely see opportunities to share what we do and who we are to a much wider audience, and that opportunity is not lost on me.' Poirier and Gilles are currently working to land a spot at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This article originally appeared on Pride: This gay Olympic figure skater just proposed to his boyfriend and 'he said yes' RELATED Tom Daley shows off the sweater he's been knitting for the Paris Olympics Meet Gay climber Campbell Harrison who's blazing trials on his way to the Paris Olympics Meet the 6 lesbian couples who are competing in the Olympics together
