Judoka hit in face after phone thief chase

Belgian judoka Dirk Van Tichelt was hit in the

face on Monday evening while chasing down a phone thief in Rio de

Janeiro, his country's Olympic Committee said.

Van Tichelt had gone to the neighbourhood of Copacabana to celebrate

winning a bronze medal at the Rio Games when his mobile phone was

stolen.

"While chasing this person, an individual hit Dirk van Tichelt in the

face," the committee said.

They found that the Brazilian individual was the aggressor and that

Van Tichelt was "the victim," the committee said.

The athlete was taken to hospital, but did not require medical treatment.

Van Tichelt claimed bronze in Monday's 73kg judo competition.