IT WAS a day of drama both on and off the mat at the Hong Kong Open judo championships at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Wan Chai yesterday.
The championships, in jeopardy as officials argued over who should be the chief co-ordinator, were rescued after mediation by the Regional Council and Urban Services Departments.
Following trouble at the weigh-in on Friday, the two Government departments - joint sponsors of the event - acted as peacemakers yesterday morning.
And when the sporting action, delayed two hours, finally began, the competition produced one of the biggest upsets in years as two-time Olympian Alex Lee Kan, Hong Kong's 31-year-old number one men's player, lost to 17-year-old Wat Chi-kwan.
On the political side, trouble had been expected after Friday's weigh-in was delayed for an hour as officials of the Hong Kong Judo Association's two warring factions insisted on appointing their own man as the tournament director.
The incumbent officials had insisted that Siu Tak-wong should be the chief co-ordinator while the rebel group trying to oust them from power wanted Chan Hung-wai.