August 09, 2008	Saturday	Sha’aban 6, 1429

BEIJING, Aug 8: Four years after amassing a record eight gold medals at Athens, poor form and a depleted team may see Japan’s traditional stranglehold over judo loosened by upstart nations at the Beijing Olympics.

Although six of its eight Athens gold medallists will return to the tatami, the ageing team arrives with only a single reigning world champion, and a record of underachievement at recent international tournaments.

Japan’s judokas were humbled by China and South Korea in the medal standings at the Asian Games at Doha in 2006, and failed to make an impression at last year’s world championships in Rio.

The country has also bid farewell to Olympic men’s champions Tadahiro Nomura and Kosei Inoue, who failed to qualify this year.

The team will nonetheless turn to its veterans to defend its Olympic honour, and much of the focus will be on twice Olympic champion Ryoko Tani, who has qualified for her fifth successive Games and first since becoming Japan’s most famous sporting mother in 2005.

Pint-sized Tani’s bid for a record third gold in the 48-kg class, may see an intriguing rematch against France’s Frederique Jossinet, who she defeated for the 2004 title at Athens.

Jossinet comprises one part of a strong 13-member French team that boasts three world champions and two Olympic medallists, and is desperate to atone for Athens where it posted its lowest medal tally since Montreal in 1976.

“They have reached a new level now and are eager to deliver,” French coach Franck Chambily said.

All eyes will be on French man-mountain Teddy Riner, who at the age of 18 became the youngest men’s heavyweight world champion after downing Russia’s Tamerlan Tmenov in Rio.

The 2.04-metre, 129-kg (284 lb) 19-year-old has been given a kind draw and will avoid a potential show-down with Tmenov and Japan’s Satoshi Ishii until the title bout.

Team Netherlands, including men’s extra-lightweight world champion Ruben Houkes, and 2000 Sydney middleweight gold medallist Mark Huizinga, has also promised a good showing.

“We have 10 athletes and every one of them could win a medal,” team leader Cor van der Geest said.

Hosts China, who have trained in virtual secrecy and won the women’s team title at last year’s worlds, may also be the team to dent Japan’s hopes of emulating its Athens feat.

Athens 52-kg women’s gold medallist Xian Dongmei and triple heavyweight world champion Tong Wen will lead a team desperate to bring glory to China in front of delirious home fans.—Reuters