SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
It's taken eight years but the NWT has itself another medalist at the Canada Winter Games.

Ndilo's Brent Betsina is pumped up after coming off the mat following his win to put him into the gold medal contest in the boys 100-plus kg judo event at the Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C., yesterday. Betsina went on to win silver in the match. - photo courtesy of Shari Olsen

Ndilo's Brent Betsina was in the final of the boys 100-plus kg category in judo yesterday but fell to Quebec's Kevin Gauthier after losing by ippon (one point), which is all that's needed to win in the sport.

Even though he lost, Betsina was still in great spirits and said he just ran into a better opponent.

"He was a big guy and strong and I was getting tired and just couldn't do it no more," he said.

Betsina started out with a bye in the first round. His first real test ended up being against Matthew Templeman of Newfoundland and Labrador, which Betsina won by ippon. Next up was Michael Ocadchy of Ontario, whom Betsina dusted off, also by ippon.

"The first match was quicker than the second one," said Betsina with a laugh.

In the final, Betsina started out well enough but slipped and ended up losing the match within the first two minutes.

Betsina's goal for the games was simple - to have fun, get out there and compete and do his best.

A medal simply wasn't in his plans, he said.

"Not even close," he said. "I told myself my medal days were over. I just wanted to have fun and compete one last time."

One last time rings true because Betsina said this would be his last competition ever in judo; he officially 'retired' after his match.

When he was told he was the first NWT athlete to win a medal at the Games since Hay River's Brendan Green did it in cross-country skiing in 2007, he reacted with surprise.

"Really?", he said. "Wow, that's amazing. I didn't know."

Betsina's coach, Mario DesForges, was just as proud of his young judoka as Betsina was of himself. He said the NWT should be equally as proud.

"He trained so hard all week long and he did it," he said.

Leading up to the match, DesForges said he warned Betsina not to be too aggressive

"I told him not to grab the gi (uniform) too tightly but he did and that was it," he said.

DesForges said this shows that if a judoka gets the chance to do their thing, they can achieve success, which in turn can be built upon.

"The big thing is to get judo back into the Arctic Winter Games," he said. "If we can do that, it will give the kids a chance to develop and become even better."

He also wouldn't mind a bit more support from the powers-that-be who hold the purse strings.

"Give me the resources and we can do more," he said.