BTN News: Ryuju Nagayama, a famous Japanese judoka, has asked people to stop attacking Spanish judoka Francisco Garrigós online. This comes after a controversial match in the quarter-finals of the -60 kg category, where Garrigós won against Nagayama by ippon. This win led to anger and hate from many Japanese fans.
The match was full of tension. Nagayama said that Garrigós continued to choke him even after the referee had called to stop. Because of the loud noise in the arena, Garrigós did not hear the referee. This led to his win, which many found unfair. After the match, Nagayama refused to shake hands with Garrigós to show his frustration. Both athletes, however, went on to win bronze medals in their respective matches for the third and fourth places, but the controversy stayed.
Recently, Nagayama posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). He shared a message and a photo of him and Garrigós in a friendly pose. Nagayama revealed that Garrigós had come to apologize to him. Nagayama emphasized the friendship in the judo community, saying, “No matter what people say, we are judo family.”
Soon after the match, many Japanese fans started insulting and threatening Garrigós on social media. They accused him of dishonoring the sport and not knowing judo rules. Some even advised him not to visit Japan due to potential consequences. To stop this rising negativity, Nagayama asked his followers and the judo community to stop attacking Garrigós. He pointed out that both athletes were desperate and fought hard in the quarter-final match, and he urged everyone to respect both of them.
Nagayama also mentioned that it was difficult for the referee to make a decision in such a high-pressure situation. He expressed regret for not shaking hands with Garrigós at the time. However, he was happy to have competed with all his strength on the Olympic stage.
This controversy shows how competitive Olympic judo can be and also highlights the need for sportsmanship and respect. Nagayama’s mature handling of the situation and his defense of Garrigós show his strong character and dedication to judo’s true spirit. Nagayama plans to use the lessons he learned from the Paris Olympics in his training. He aims to show his growth and skills at the next Olympic Games.
Nagayama’s call for unity is an important reminder of the need for respect in sports, even during intense competition. As both athletes continue their careers, their shared experience is a powerful example of overcoming challenges and building a community within the global judo family. This incident teaches us that, despite the intense competition, the spirit of sportsmanship and mutual respect must always prevail.
