Takafuji gently pats the head of the child held by Nagayama after winning the men’s 60kg class and pulls him out (photographed by Kenta Take)
◇3 days ◇Final day ◇Men and women 8 classes ◇Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
In the men’s 60 kg class, Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Naoto Takato (30 = Park 24) achieved his second consecutive victory.
He lost a head-to-head match in the finals to former world No. 1 Tatsuki Nagayama (27, SBC Shonan Beauty Clinic), who was competing for a spot on the Paris Olympics team, and said, “I shouldn’t be so greedy. I won, and I think my era is over,” he said, accepting defeat.
It was a big hit, having missed out on the World Championship in May and the international tournament in August, allowing Nagayama to chase after him. “I haven’t been able to compete very well in the past year, so I felt like I was able to put my heart into it today and show my children and young players my spirited judo.” In the quarterfinals, with less than 10 seconds left in the lead, he caught up with Waza-ari and came from behind to win. Even the sharpness of the return technique created a scene where it would become an effective technique in the finals. “In the end, I felt glad that I was able to do it in person, and I felt liberated,” she said refreshingly.
The words carved into his right chest were also a new driving source. “ALBA”. Due to changes in domestic regulations, logos of sponsors, etc. can be displayed on the national team’s uniforms from June. “This is the first time I’ve entered it.” It was the mark of the e-sports team “ALBA E-sports”, of which he is the ambassador.
Although he was appointed to this role because of his love for games, he now feels strongly that he wants to support e-sports players. When he saw first-hand the efforts he put into competitions and the efforts he made to control his diet, he realized the significance of passing on what he had learned through judo, saying, “It’s just like us athletes.Therefore, there are things that I can pass on through my experience.” I found it.
He placed 5th at the world championships in May and 3rd at the international competition in August. Unable to decide who would represent her, she spent a month in the middle of summer thinking, “Do I really want to go to the Olympics?” She reached the top with the gold medal in Tokyo. As she searched for answers again, she found herself watching the match. “I really like it. This is the only one,” she said, thinking back to her origins. She said, “I want everyone to see how hard she works.” Among them, she also envisioned her “juniors” in the e-sports world.
He started competing in international competitions in his teens and built a long history in the lightest weight class. “There are so many things I want to do. But for me, the Olympics are everything, so I can’t waver from that, so I’ll think about it a little.” He has reached a turning point in his life in judo, which has had its ups and downs.[Kengo Abe]
2023-12-04 09:29:30
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