YORK judo king Rob Thomas was today seeking further hospital treatment after a crippling blow halted his long-awaited comeback.

Thomas fractured a shoulder socket during his first crack at the World Masters tournament in Ireland's Londonderry. The injury could keep him out of competitive action for as long as six months.

But fighting back the devastating setback to his hopes of a swansong in Japan at next year's World Masters, the 37-year-old Thomas defiantly told the Evening Press: "I will be back. If anything this has made me even more determined to get to Japan next year."

Thomas' crushing injury was suffered in his second bout of a top-class field in the heavyweight division.

Narrowly losing in his first contest to a South African, Thomas took on a Russian opponent, who he demolished when he threw him for ten seconds.

But in completing that throw Thomas' right elbow took the full force of both himself and his foe.

Recalled the York ace: "As soon as I hit the mat there was almighty pain. I felt the whole shoulder come out and go back in again."

Forced to retire from the tournament he was ruled out of a third bout to determine who would get the bronze medal. "I was devastated. But I will live to fight another day. I'm sure of that."

Updated: 12:34 Monday, June 24, 2002