During the women’s 70-kilogram judo quarterfinals at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, Rin Maeda of Japan defeated Tang Jing of China by disqualification after Tang bit Maeda’s left arm for more than 20 seconds during a ground grapple, according to regional media reports covering the October 1 event.
Quarterfinal Disqualification at the Asian Games
The incident occurred on October 1 as the match between Maeda and Tang progressed into a ground exchange. According to reports from the South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo and the news outlet OSEN, Tang was in a disadvantageous position on the bottom as Maeda attempted to secure a hold. Tang bit down on Maeda’s left upper arm through her judogi and maintained the bite for over 20 seconds until the referee signaled a halt.
Maeda immediately protested the action, displaying the visible bite mark on her arm to the refereeing crew. Following an inspection of the distinct dental impression left on the fabric and skin, officials penalized Tang with a disqualification (hansoku-make). Tang appeared confused by the decision, registering a dissatisfied expression as the match was brought to an immediate halt.
East Asian Media Report on Tang's Disqualification
The disqualification generated widespread coverage across East Asian sports media outlets. Taiwan’s ET today noted that Tang appeared trapped in a prolonged stalemate during the gripping exchanges before resorting to the action that triggered her ejection. News reports highlighted that Tang departed the venue without speaking to reporters following the incident, leaving the exact motivations behind the prolonged bite unexplained.
OSEN reported that Tang did not appear for the repechage matches that followed, bypassing an opportunity to contend for a bronze medal. The media coverage emphasized that Tang was an experienced competitor, making the shift from standard judo techniques to the rule-infracting bite a point of significant astonishment among tournament observers.
Maeda’s Path to the Gold Medal
Following the quarterfinal incident, Maeda advanced through the tournament brackets. She secured victories in the subsequent rounds and ultimately faced Ashuat Azhar of Kazakhstan in the division final. Maeda won the bout to claim the gold medal in the women’s 70-kilogram weight class, overshadowing the earlier controversy with her podium finish.
Committee Records Hansoku-Make Against Chinese Competitor
The tournament committee recorded the official outcome as a hansoku-make against the Chinese competitor, cementing Maeda’s progression to the medal rounds.
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