For Immediate Release March 2, 2008 Contact: Nicole Jomantas, 719.271.9937 (cell) Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us (Colorado Springs, Colo.)-Athens Olympian Nikki Kubes (Fort Worth, Texas / Fort Worth Judo) returned to major international competition in the 78kg division for the first time since 2006 at the Warsaw World Cup in Poland on Sunday. Kubes led in her opening round match against 2007 Pan Am Games medalist Marylise Levesque (CAN) by a waza-ari (half-point), but lost by ippon (instant win) with a minute and a half remaining in the match. Levesque then lost her next match against two-time World medalist Edinanci Silva (BRA), eliminating Kubes. Shintaro Higashi (Scarsdale, N.Y. / NYAC / Kokushi Budo Institute) also competed this weekend, but lost in the 100kg division to Florian Lindner (AUT) by waza-ari and yuko (quarter-point) scores. Lindner then lost his next match to former Olympic and World Champion Keiji Suzuki (JPN). Complete results are as follows: Warsaw World Cup Women's 70kg 1. Mayra Aguiar (BRA) 2. Shumei Dou (CHN) 3. Leire Iglesias (ESP) 3. Ylenia Scapin (ITA) 5. Cecilia Blanco (ESP) 5. Catherine Jacques (BEL) 7. Katarzyna Pilocik (POL) 7. Rasa Sraka (SLO) Women's 78kg 1. Xia Liu (CHN) 2. Yurisel Laborde (CUB) 3. Maryna Pryshchepa (UKR) 3. Esther San Miguel (ESP) 5. Lucie Louette (FRA) 5. Edinanci Silva (BRA) 7. Geraldine Mentouopou (FRA) 7. Katarzyna Wrobel (POL) Also Competed: Nikki Kubes (Fort Worth, Texas / Fort Worth Judo) Women's +78kg 1. Hua Yuan (CHN) 2. Eva Bisseni (FRA) 3. Katrin Beinroth (GER) 3. Ketty Mathe (FRA) 5. Carola Uilenhoed (NED) 5. Vanessa Zambotti (MEX) 7. Idalis Ortiz (CUB) 7. Ursula Sadkowska (POL) Prague World Cup Men's 81kg 1. Giorgi Baindurashvili (GEO) 2. Saba Gavashelishvili (GEO) 3. Mikalai Barkouski (BLR) 3. Aleksei Budolin (EST) 5. Valeriu Duminica (MDA) 5. Giuseppe Maddaloni (ITA) 7. Alibek Bashkaev (RUS) 7. Lukasz Blach (POL) Men's 90kg 1. Irakli Tsirekidze (GEO) 2. David Alarza (ESP) 3. Winston Gordon (GBR) 3. Elkhan Mammadov (AZE) 5. Valentyn Grekov (UKR) 5. Roberto Meloni (ITA) 7. Jevgenijs Borodavko (LAT) 7. Eduardo Santos (BRA) Men's 100kg 1. Ariel Zeevi (ISR) 2. Yauhen Biadulin (BLR) 3. Michael Jurack (GER) 3. Keiji Suzuki (JPN) 5. Christophe Humbert (FRA) 5. Levan Zhorzholiani (GEO) 7. Franz Birkfellner (AUT) 7. Joao Taveira (POR) Also Competed: Shintaro Higashi (Scarsdale, N.Y. / NYAC / Kokushi Budo Institute), 0-1 Men's +100kg 1. Oscar Brayson (CUB) 2. Alexander Mikhaylin (RUS) 3. Paolo Bianchessi (ITA) 3. Grim Vuijsters (NED) 5. Yevgen Sotnikov (UKR) 5. Andrey Volkov (RUS) 7. Bama Bor (HUN) 7. Dennis Van Der Geest (NED) For more information, contact Nicole Jomantas, USA Judo Director of Communications and Media Relations, at 719.271.9937 (cell) or Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us. -END-