INQUIRER Sports

BEIJING -- German reigning champion Yvonne Boenisch saw her Olympic hopes go up in smoke in the first round of the women's-57-kilogram category in Beijing on Monday.

Boenisch, who is known for her attacking style, paid for her ambition as she was countered for a waza-ari (half-point) score by Italian Giulia Quintavalle, an outsider.

Boenisch went for her usual leg-grab attack but the young Italian turned it against her and caught the champion with a subtle foot-weep (kosoto-gari).

The favorite Kye Sun-Hui of North Korea, a four-time world champion and 1996 Olympic champion at -48kg, had no such early problems as she dismissed European champion Sabrina Filzmoser of Austria in her first round.

In a thrilling battle with both fighters committing themselves in the quest for victory, Kye eventually caught Filzmoser for the full ippon score with the tani-otoshi (valley drop) technique.

There was also a first round upset in the men's -73kg division as Iran's Ali Malomat downed Japan's Yusuke Kanamaru with a delightful harai-makikomi (sweeping wrapround throw).

World champion Wang Ki Chun of South Korea made a confident start, though, pinning tough Kazakh Rinat Ibragimov with a scarf hold (kuzure kesa-gatame).