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CHELYABINSK: Japanese pair Riki Nakaya and Nae Udaka continued their country’s dominance of the Judo World Championships, by taking gold medals on Wednesday.
London Olympics silver-medallist Nakaya won the men’s under-73kg division by beating North Korea’s shock finalist Hong Kuk Hyon.
It was the 25-year-old’s second world title having also triumphed in Paris in 2011.
Udaka claimed her first world title with a golden score victory against now four-time world runner-up Telma Monteiro of Portugal in the women’s under-57kg category.
In a tight final there was almost nothing to separate the pair and it was decided on a penalty given to the four-time European champion.
Monteiro also took silver in 2007, 2009 and 2010 while she was a world bronze medallist in 2005 but has never climbed the top step of a world championship podium.
France’s 2013 European champion Automne Pavia and Sanne Verhagen of the Netherlands took the bronze medals.
Russian-born Victor Scvortov made history for the United Arab Emirates -- winning their first ever medal -- by taking under-73kg bronze alongside Russian Musa Mogushkov.
Japan, who usually dominate in the lightweight divisions, have won four of the six categories so far.
Ami Kondo won her first under-48kg title on Monday while Masashi Ebinuma claimed his third straight world under-66kg crown on Tuesday.
The men’s under-81kg and women’s under-63kg categories will take place Thursday.
Results:
Women’s:
-57kg:
Final: Nae Udaka (JPN) bt Telma Monteiro (POR)
Bronze medal bouts: Automne Pavia (FRA) bt Rafaela Silva (BRA); Sanne Verhagen (NED) bt Sumiya Dorjsuren (MGL).
Semi-finals: Nae Udaka (JPN) bt Automne Pavia (FRA); Telma Monteiro (POR) bt Sumiya Dorjsuren (MGL).
Men’s:
-73kg:
Final: Riki Nakaya (JPN) bt Hong Kuk-hyon (PRK).
Bronze medal bouts: Musa Mogushkov (RUS) bt Yertugan Torenov (KAZ); Victor Scvortov (UAE) bt Lee Young-jun (KOR).
Semi-finals: Hong Kuk-hyon (PRK) bt Yertugan Torenov (KAZ); Riki Nakaya (JPN) bt Victor Scvortov (UAE).
Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2014
