Japan's Judo Trio Off to Rio
Everybody knows Judo, like Sumo, is Japan's national sport and at each Olympic all of us expect our boys and girls to reign in every division. But then, the world has caught up with us and Japan occasionally ended up playing second fiddle to notorious competitors from other parts of the world.
Now, our players are more anxious than ever to let the world see Japanese Judo in an entirely new light.
Three of the hopefuls attended a send-off party this after noon at the firm they belong and declared determination to snatch "the most colorful medals" at Rio this summer.
The trio comprises Shohei Ono (73-kilo division), Takanori Nagase (81-kilo division) and Ryunosuke Haga (100-kilo division) and every one of them is last year's world champion. They were joined at the party by two long-distance runners, Satoru Sasaki (marathon) and Kota Murayama (long distances) - both of the same firm.
Asked to comment on Rio, Ono grinned:
"Well, I'm the can opener at Rio, and will make sure to grab that medal and give the rest of you a solid go-push."
Nagase commented:
"Ono gets his medal and I to follow the next day. That's going to be some pressure alright, but I'll get mine just the same and give Haga a harder push."
Responding to Nagase, Haga stood up and swore:
"I've got the message, you guys. You two get yours and what else am I to do? Let that go? No way. It's quite a pressure, alright, but I'll get mine for sure. Count on me."
Big talks, right? But well said. It's high time Japan shined once again in a sport, like sumo, supposedly of her own. I still remember the day the Dutchman Antonius Johannes Geesink first dethroned Japan in Judo by beating Kaminaga in Tokyo, 1964. It’s been a long time. (Nathan Shiga)
延岡で代表合宿終了後、みんなで高千穂パワーを！！ pic.twitter.com/sxtntaRMnI
— 羽賀龍之介/Ryunosuke Haga (@gaaaaha) 2016年6月18日
