At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 30, Japanese judoka Hayato Kondo and his younger sister Mizuki Kondo achieved a rare sibling golden double, capturing titles in their respective weight classes at the IG Arena. Hayato Kondo, 25, secured the men’s 60-kilogram division gold, while Mizuki Kondo, 21, claimed the top podium spot in the women’s 48-kilogram category.
Path to the Men’s 60-Kilogram Gold
Hayato Kondo, competing out of the Park24 corporate judo team and hailing from Saga Industrial High School, won his preliminary matches smoothly from the second round onward. In the final, he faced Paris Olympic gold medalist Eldos Smetov of Kazakhstan. Hayato attacked aggressively throughout the bout, scoring two yuko techniques to secure a victory by superior judgment and claim the gold medal.
Mizuki Kondo’s Tactical Run in the Women’s 48-Kilogram Division
Mizuki Kondo demonstrated resilience en route to her gold medal. The Saga Commercial High School alumna survived a grueling quarterfinal that stretched into extra time before advancing. In the championship match, she faced Abiba Abuzhakynova of Kazakhstan, the silver medalist at the World Championships. Mizuki secured the victory by pinning her opponent in ne-waza (ground techniques) to earn an ippon.
Sibling Background and National Championship Pedigree
Born and raised in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, the Kondo siblings began training in judo at a young age. Both developed their skills locally before achieving dual back-to-back titles at the National High School Championships during their prep school years. Mizuki also captured her first national title at the same tournament in April.
Historical Significance and Olympic Horizon
The siblings’ simultaneous victories mark the first time a brother and sister have won gold medals on the same day at a major international judo competition since Hifumi Abe and Uta Abe accomplished the feat at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. With Japan’s senior national team top tier resting ahead of the World Championships in October, the Kondo siblings’ performances at the Asian Games establish their presence on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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