CHUBBY CHAMPION: Japanese judoka Yasuyuki Muneta (right) pushes down Mohammad Reza Rodaki of Iran during their final match in the men's over 100kg class on Saturday. – AFPpic Chubby cop ousts towering Iranian to keep heavyweight title
PINT-sized Japanese policeman Yasuyuki Muneta survived a contest of David and Goliath proportions to retain his men's heavyweight judo title at the Asian Games on Saturday.
Muneta, whose chubby appearance has earned him the nickname the “Fighting Teddy Bear”, gave up 30cm in height to Iran's Mohammad Reza Rodaki, but the Tokyo law enforcer outmanoeuvred his hulking opponent to become only the third man to retain an Asian Games judo title.
“Usually I try to win with an ippon to take the contest with one throw but this time I couldn't so I just had to keep on going,” he said.
Sae Nakazawa also won gold in the women's 78kg class, putting Japan on course to achieve their goal of overhauling South Korea for second place in the final Games medals standings.
“I was so happy that I won,” said Nakazawa. “This is my first time participating in the Asian Games.”
After a poor world team championship in Paris in September, where neither the men nor women's team reached the final, and without Olympic champions Keiji Suzuki and Ryoko Tani, there had been questions over the quality of the Japan team for Doha.
Teenager Satoshi Ishii, who became the youngest national champion in Japanese history this year, failed to add to the gold rush as Athens Olympic silver medallist Jang Sung-ho struck back for South Korea to win the half heavyweight final.
The Chinese inevitably got involved too, with Tong Wen using her 132kg to great effect with a contest-ending ippon after just 67 seconds against Mongolian Tserenkhand Dorjgotov.
The pick of the ties was the last, however, when former world champion Muneta, having already out-witted a couple of granite-jawed giants, took on the 2.02m muscle-bound Rodaki.
At first it looked as if the Iranian's strength and probing kicks would prove too much for Muneta, but with a combination of speed and solid ground defence he managed to use the bigger man's bulk against him and after three minutes was ahead in the contest.
“I'm not bothered by the difference in height, you need to do your own judo, stick to your own game until you win,” said Muneta, who joined compatriot Yukisama Nakamura and Korea's Chung Hoon-Yong in retaining a men's Asian Games title.
Nakazawa was adjudged the champion of the women's under 78kg class when 10 minutes of fierce fighting with South Korean Lee So-yeon could not produce a winner.
The 23-year-old bundled her more experienced opponent over as time ran out to force 'golden score' overtime, winning on a split decision from the three officials when another five minutes could not separate them.
“I thought that time was out when my opponent beat me in the final second,” said South Korea's tearful silver medallist. – Reuters
Sae Nakazawa also won gold in the women's 78kg class, putting Japan on course to achieve their goal of overhauling South Korea for second place in the final Games medals standings.
“I was so happy that I won,” said Nakazawa. “This is my first time participating in the Asian Games.”
After a poor world team championship in Paris in September, where neither the men nor women's team reached the final, and without Olympic champions Keiji Suzuki and Ryoko Tani, there had been questions over the quality of the Japan team for Doha.
Teenager Satoshi Ishii, who became the youngest national champion in Japanese history this year, failed to add to the gold rush as Athens Olympic silver medallist Jang Sung-ho struck back for South Korea to win the half heavyweight final.
The Chinese inevitably got involved too, with Tong Wen using her 132kg to great effect with a contest-ending ippon after just 67 seconds against Mongolian Tserenkhand Dorjgotov.
The pick of the ties was the last, however, when former world champion Muneta, having already out-witted a couple of granite-jawed giants, took on the 2.02m muscle-bound Rodaki.
At first it looked as if the Iranian's strength and probing kicks would prove too much for Muneta, but with a combination of speed and solid ground defence he managed to use the bigger man's bulk against him and after three minutes was ahead in the contest.
“I'm not bothered by the difference in height, you need to do your own judo, stick to your own game until you win,” said Muneta, who joined compatriot Yukisama Nakamura and Korea's Chung Hoon-Yong in retaining a men's Asian Games title.
Nakazawa was adjudged the champion of the women's under 78kg class when 10 minutes of fierce fighting with South Korean Lee So-yeon could not produce a winner.
The 23-year-old bundled her more experienced opponent over as time ran out to force 'golden score' overtime, winning on a split decision from the three officials when another five minutes could not separate them.
“I thought that time was out when my opponent beat me in the final second,” said South Korea's tearful silver medallist. – Reuters
Fonte: Malaysia Star - Malaysia - http://thestar.com.my/
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