Tani returns to limelight with gold at judo worlds

Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007
Tani returns to limelight with gold at judo worlds

RIO DE JANEIRO (Kyodo) Japan's Ryoko Tani captured gold in the women's 48-kg category Sunday to win her seventh career title at the World Judo Championships.
It was the 32-year-old Tani's first international competition since the 2004 Athens Olympics and she proved she had not lost her step, even after giving birth to her son Yoshiaki in 2005.
Tani beat her old nemesis Frederique Jossinet, whom she defeated in the final in Athens, with a "koka" point in extra time in the third round and scored a "yuko" against defending champ Yanet Bermoy of Cuba to win the final.
"I feel like I fought better this time than in the previous six meets," Tani said. "I wasn't overpowered and my stamina was fine. This title victory is a big confidence boost."
Tani, who missed the 2005 Cairo meet due to her pregnancy, has won the most world titles of any judoka — woman or man. She lost in the final at the national weight category championships in April but was selected to compete at the worlds because of her proven track record.
In other women's action, Maki Tsukada, the reigning Olympic champion at over 78 kg, struck gold in the open weight class to claim her first world title. Japanese women won medals in seven weight categories in this year's world championships — their most since the women's competition started in 1980.
"I wanted a gold medal in the over 78-kg class but I'm happy to get it in the open weight category. In Athens, it seemed like I won the gold in no time, so this title win is definitely a bigger victory," said Tsukada, who defeated Lucija Polauder of Slovenia in the final.
Yasuyuki Muneta, meanwhile, won gold in the men's open weight class, claiming the only gold for Japanese men at these world championships.
"I was just barely chosen to compete here and I just wanted to do the type of judo I'm capable of. I was told not to worry about the bad results (of the Japanese men). I still want to become recognized by everyone as a strong judoka," said Muneta, the 2003 gold medalist in the over 100-kg category.
In other action, Tatsuaki Egusa made a fourth-round exit in the men's 60-kg class. The medal results for the Japanese men — one gold and a bronze — were the worst ever at world championships.

FONTE: The Japan Times - Japan

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