BTN News: Japan, the current Olympic judo team silver medalists, had a tough match against Spain in their first event at the Paris Olympics. This intense battle in the round of 16 was full of suspense and skill, ending with Japan winning in the ‘golden score’ round.
Japan came to France determined to make up for their painful loss in Tokyo three years ago. Losing the final in the Budokan, Japan’s famous judo venue, was a huge disappointment. This defeat pushed the team to come back stronger and more determined to win.
The match against Spain was very close, with each team winning three matches. This tie meant that the winner would be decided by a ‘golden score’ round. In this round, a weight category is chosen at random, and the first judoka to score a point wins the match for their team.
In the heavyweight division, Tatsuru Saito from Japan faced Nikoloz Sherazadishvili from Spain. Sherazadishvili, originally from Georgia, usually competes in the -100 kg category. He is a very skilled judoka. Although he missed out on a bronze medal earlier in the Olympics, he defeated Saito in this match, adding to the excitement.
With the score tied at three wins each, the ‘golden score’ round was crucial. The decisive match was in the women’s -70 kg category. Miku Takaichi from Japan competed against Cristina Cabaña from Spain. This match was full of tension and high stakes. Takaichi managed to score an ippon, which is the highest score in judo. This win was crucial and allowed Japan to move on to the quarterfinals.
This match shows how thrilling judo team events can be. Each judoka’s performance can greatly affect the team’s success. Japan’s victory highlights their skill and determination. It also sets the stage for an exciting journey toward possible Olympic gold in Paris.
