Olympic byes for Shropshire judo pair

Two members of Shropshire’s judo triumvirate this afternoon moved a step closer an Olympic medal – after receiving first-round byes.

Telford’s Kelly Edwards and Danny Williams of Shrewsbury both received direct entry into the last 16 of their respective weight categories at today’s draw.

That is a significant boost for the pair preparing for their first Olympics but Gemma Howell, also of Telford, has been handed a testing opener.

A tough battle also awaits Edwards when she takes to the mat at the ExCeL Arena in the under-48kgs category on Saturday, with the 21-year-old’s second-round opponent either Japan’s world No.2 Tomoko Fukumi or Spain’s Oiana Blanco, who is ranked tenth.

Howell, like Edwards a former Thomas Telford School pupil, is in first-round action on Tuesday and will be tested to the full in her under-63kgs opener against France’s world No.2 Gevrice Emane in the -63kgs on Tuesday.

Williams also skips the first round before facing world No.30 Rasul Boqiev of Tajikistan at under-73kgs on Monday.