Soichi Hashimoto returns from Grand Slam Tbilisi
Photo By Sponichi
Soichi Hashimoto (Park 24), a member of the men’s 73 kg class who participated in the Judo Grand Slam (GS) Tbilisi tournament and placed 3rd, and who is representing the Paris Olympics, returned to Haneda Airport on the 26th. Although he lost to a Russian athlete in the semifinals, he secured a medal and said, “I was able to do what I did in practice. (From now on) I will be determined.”
Hashimoto, who is competing in his first Olympics at the age of 32, is encouraged by the presence of his senior, Tadashi Ebinuma, who won bronze at two consecutive Olympics. Ebinuma, who has relied on him as a big brother since his days as a player, is scheduled to return to Japan in April after completing a two-year study abroad program in the UK. He said that he was in close contact with him on match days during this tournament and received advice from him, and expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I would like him to work with me full-time in the future.”
There are only 4 months left until the Olympics. From now on, they plan to go straight to the Olympics without any games in between, and will basically make adjustments within Japan. “I think it’s my first and last Olympics considering my age. I want to put everything I have into the rest of the year and win the gold medal at the Olympics. I’m going to believe in myself,” he said with determination.
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2024-03-26 14:45:47
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