The Japanese continue to dominate judo, where they face almost no competition. Shori Hamada became Olympic champion in the women’s 78kg category. It took her only 68 seconds to beat Frenchwoman Madeleine Malonga in the final with an “ippon”.
This is the seventh gold medal for Japan in judo, and so far they have lost the titles in two categories for women, in which Kosovars triumphed.
This is the first Olympic title for the 30-year-old Shori Hamada, who also won a gold medal at the 2018 World Championships in Baku.
The bronze medals were won by Germany’s Anna-Maria Wagner and Brazil’s Mayra Aguiar.
Anna-Maria Wagner won with “waza-ari” against Cuban Kaliema Antomarchi. This year she became world champion in Budapest.
In the other small final, Mayra Aguiar defeated Yoon Hyun-ji of the Republic of Korea. The Brazilian is a two-time world champion, but at the third consecutive Olympics (London, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo) she remains with a bronze medal.
Judo, women, category up to 78 kg:
1. Shori Hamada (Japan)
2. Madeleine Malonga (France)
3. Anna-Maria Wagner (Germany) and Mayra Aguiar (Brazil)
