Japan tops medal table on opening weekend of Paris Olympics

Japanese athletes got off to a strong start at the Paris Olympics, winning four gold medals on the opening weekend of the Games. They also won two silvers and a bronze in the first two days of competition, leapfrogging Australia to top the medal table.

Natsumi Tsunoda (blue) of Japan knocks down Baasankhuu Bavuudorj of Mongolia during the Women’s under 48kg event during the 2022 Paris Grand Slam, International Judo Federation World Judo Tour, in Paris, France, on February 5, 2022.

Kakuda Natsumi

Natsumi Tsunoda won Japan’s first gold medal of the Olympics in the under-48kg judo final on Sunday. Making her Olympic debut, the three-time world champion defeated world number one and crowd favorite Shirine Boukli of France by a point in the quarterfinals before defeating Swedish teenager Tara Babulfath by controversial disqualification to secure her place in the final. Natsumi then used her signature Basakhuu Bavuudorj to take gold, beating Mongolia’s Baasankhuu Bavuudorj.

“It hasn’t hurt my body yet, but my face hurts.” explain Tsunoda smiled. “I’m glad my coach is happy because I really have been working hard for this tournament for a long time.”

Hifumi Abe wins the 2022 Tashkent World Senior Championship

Abe’s article

Japan’s second judo gold medal came from Hitomi Abe in the men’s 66kg category. He defeated Brazil’s William Lima by one point in the final to defend the title he won in Tokyo three years ago. However, it was a bittersweet day for the Abe family as Hitomi’s sister Uta left the arena in tears after losing in the second round to Uzbekistan’s Diyola Kheldijorova.

“This is an unforgettable memory for me,” Hifumi explain“My sister lost today and it was a very difficult day, but I trained hard and felt I had to do my best to make up for it. I felt as an older brother I had no choice but to do my best. I was able to control my emotions.” Three years ago, they won gold medals on the same day.

Yoshizawa Coco

Japan swept the women’s street skateboarding event. 14-year-old Coco Yoshizawa defeated compatriot Liz Akama, 15, to win the gold medal. Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Toyona Nakayama was also expected to win the title, but she failed to score any of her five best tricks in the final and finished seventh. Yoshizawa is the second consecutive Japanese Olympic champion in this event. Koji Nishitani, who won the gold medal three years ago, failed to qualify this time.

“I knew if I wanted to win, I had to try my hardest trick. My goal wasn’t to come in second or third; my goal was to come in first with my hardest trick.” explain Yoshizawa after the finals.

Kanoko

Japan’s fourth gold medal of the opening weekend came from Koki Kano, who defeated France’s Yannick Borel 15-9 in the men’s individual epee final to become the first Japanese fencer to reach the podium in an individual event. He was one of the stars of the Japanese epee team when they won the title in Tokyo three years ago.

“I wanted to come here and win an individual gold medal, and I did it,” Cano said. explain. “I’m very happy to win the gold medal in the individual event.” Now, attention will turn to the team event as Kano and his teammates Kazuyasu Minobe, Masaru Yamada and Akira Komata attempt to defend the title they won in 2021.

Other winners

Other medalists for Japan this weekend included Ryuju Nagayama, who won bronze in the men’s 60kg judo, and 18-year-old swimmer Tomoyuki Matsushita, who won silver in the men’s 400kg individual medley.

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