Without a medal on Sunday, the country of judo set the record straight on Monday at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi.
Without a title on Sunday, Japan set the record straight on Monday by taking the lead in the medal rankings at the World Judo Championships in Abu Dhabi, thanks in particular to Ryoma Tanaka’s title in the -66 kg category.
Japan may not have lined up its starters, immersed in their final preparation for the Olympic Games, but it remains the country of judo.
After Taiki Nakamura’s shy bronze medal in the -60 kg category, Ryoma Tanaka beat his compatriot Takeshi Takeoka to take gold in the -66 kg category.
At 22 years old, winner of the Paris 2021 tournament and the Masters in 2023, Tanaka confirms that Japan has an almost unlimited reservoir in this category.
He succeeds his compatriots Hifumi Abe (2017, 2018, 2022, 2023), who will aim for a second Olympic title in Paris, and Joshiro Maruyama (2019, 2021). Japan is undefeated in seven editions now in the -66 kg category.
In the -73 kg category, Tatsuki Ishihara, 22, thought he could add another gold to Japan’s total but he was overthrown by Azerbaijan’s Hidayat Heydarov, to the cheers of the public won over to his cause.
With few exceptions, Japan has decided to send its N.2 or N.3 in each category during these Worlds placed very close to the Olympics.
