Marcon Bezzina's build-up for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 is firmly on track after the Maltese judoka won a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Championships held last week in Derry, Northern Ireland.

Bezzina is currently training at Bath University in the UK. She left four weeks ago after figuring prominently for the Malta Judo Federation in the International Judo Open during which she beat 2002 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Lisa Bradley in one of her bouts.

In Derry, Bezzina was under the guidance of coach Hidemi Soda, a former all-Japan champion. Soda is one of the Japanese judo instructors at the Bath University.

Having not yet reached the peak of her training programme, Bezzina was forced to participate in a superior weight category than the one she normally takes part in - the 57kgs class. Weighing at 61kgs, she was listed in the 63kgs category and made to face stronger opponents from Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and New Zealand - 12 in all.

Against New Zealander Clutha Mahana, Bezzina scored two yuko (five points) and retained control to win by superiority. She reached the semi-finals despite a loss in her other pool bout against Sarah Jones, of Wales.

Kelly Roberts was 5-0 down against Bezzina in the semi-final but then the English national champion blocked the Maltese judoka's aggressive technique as Bezzina dropped on her back to hold off Roberts' counter.

However, the referee interpreted this move as a counter from the English girl and awarded Roberts a Wazari (seven points).

There was little time left for Bezzina to recover. She lost 7-5 and had to settle for a bronze medal.