Rio 2016 a step closer for Danny Williams
Shropshire judo champion Danny Williams moved closer to qualifying for the Rio Olympics after defeating the London 2012 gold medallist in Taiwan.
Williams won gold in the Asian Judo Open, an Olympic qualification event.
The Commonwealth Games champion made it four golds in a row when he made in through four tough rounds in Taipei.
Williams received a bye for the first round and then defeated Vishal Ruhil of India by ippon – equivalent to a stoppage in boxing – in the second round.
That set up a quarter-final with Russia's Mansur Isaev, who took gold in London 2012 in the 73kg class.
A hard-fought fight went the full distance, with Williams taking it from the Russian on a single penalty.
In the semi-final Williams faced Kai-Wen Tu, the local hero from Taipei, but again was successful by ippon.
And it was the same scenario in the final when Williams defeated David Ancor from Canada.
The victory gave Williams more qualifying points, as he edged closer to a spot on the plane to Rio next summer.
Williams, from Dorrington, said: "Another 100 Olympic qualifying points which puts me right in there for qualification. What I have to do now is, at least, maintain my position."
