Japanese athletes win test Olympic titles in Rio

At the first day of the AQUECE Test Event in Rio de Janeiro two categories were engaged: women’s U52kg and men’s U66kg with both Japanese winners. In the Carioca Arena some foreign teams were invited to compete with Brazilian talents. Some of the athletes usually even fight U60kg, but for this test event, the level isn’t as high as they are used to be, for others it’s a good opportunity to fight against international athletes in the Olympic venue with the complete environment and official protocols.

The atmosphere promises to be very good this summer, as already today an enthusiastic audience came to the Arena to watch judo.

U66kg Joshiro Maruyama of Japan won his category in the final against Lucas Godoy of Brazil. Mauryama is a former Japanese Junior champion and winner of the Kodokan Cup. Godoy a 21-year old Brazilian who competed last year at the PanAm Open in Montevideo. British Ashley McKenzie and Diego Dos Santos finished with bronze.

In the women’s category U52kg title was captured by Maeda Chishima of Japan. Chishima is a former bronze medallist of the World Cadet Championships and she won a few Junior European Cups last year. She is still 18 years. In 2007 Yoshie Ueno won the Olympic test event in Beijing. In 2012 she took Olympic bronze in London. Chishima defeated Brazilian super talent Jessica Pereira in the final. In 2013 she won silver at the World Junior Championships in Ljubljana. Brazilian Raquel Silva and British Chelsie Giles won a bronze medal and experienced an “Olympic” medal ceremony.