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Kiyomi Watanabe scores PHL's 1st silver in Asian Games judo


 

Kiyomi Watanabe holds up her prize. PSC pool photo
Kiyomi Watanabe holds up her prize. PSC pool photo

Kiyomi Watanabe scored the first silver medal for the Philippnes in the 2018 Asian Games on Thursday after an impressive run in the women's 63-kg. judo competition.

She first defeated Orapin Senatham of Thailand in the quarterfinals and Gankhaich Bold of Mongolia in the semifinals to set up a finals showdown against Asian champion Nami Nabekura of Japan.

Nabekura forced Watanabe to lose her balance in the first minute for a waza-ari that was equivalent to one point.

Watanabe was pinned down for 10 seconds in the 3:21 seconds of the match for the second waza-ari to lose the match via Ippon.

“Coming to this, I am the challenger,” said the 22-year-old Watanabe, a Sports Science student at Waseda University in Tokyo.

“We had a game plan but I was so nervous before the game and could not execute. I know her because we often met in tournament in Japan,” she said. “But she is now much stronger than me because she often competes.”

Watanabe, however, improved on her seventh-place finish in the Incheon 2014 Asian Games.

Despite failing to get the country’s fifth gold medal, Watanabe said she is already so happy with her first silver medal and his contribution to the country’s campaign.

“I didn’t have a medal in my first Asian Games. I am so happy with this medal. I hope to continue playing for the Philippines,” she said.

With Watanabe's win, the Philippines improved its haul to four gold medals, one silver, and 13 bronzes. —JST, GMA News

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