Japan wins first World Mixed Team Championships by 6-0 to Brazil

Japan has won the Mixed Team competition of the World Judo Championships as. The Mixed Team Competition was officially added to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic programme by the IOC in June and the hosts of the next Olympiad won the first edition of the new format at the senior level.

Japan defeated Brazil 6:0 in the gold medal match to send the media into overdrive as the sport’s founding nation and the hosts of Tokyo 2020 were unmatched on the final day in Budapest.

Women -57kg Japan 1 - 0 Brazil

World silver medallist Yoshida Tsukasa (JPN) defeated Olympic champion Rafaela Silva (BRA) after almost three minutes of golden score to give Japan the early advantage. Yoshida trapped Silva in a tate-shiho-gatame hold but the Brazilian escaped before fiving away a score. The Japanese resumed control on the ground and this time there was no escape for Silva whose gold backpatch was out of sight for 20 seconds. 

Men -73kg Japan 2 - 0 Brazil

In a Rematch of May’s Ekaterinburg Grand Slam final world champion Hashimoto Soichi (JPN) tormented Marcelo Contini (BRA) once again. The Ippon Hunter threw the Brazilian, who initially rushed out full of intent, with his trademark sode-tsurikomi-goshi for a waza-ari which was the difference after four minutes. Soichi Hashimoto: “Honestly at the beginning I did not know how to feel about this mixed team event, but the others, the good atmosphere helped me and it is always really important for me to prove that Japan is one of the strongest judo nations of the world and I am very happy that we could prove it. Regarding my individual gold medal, it depended only on me, but to caught this second one was a result of the team's effort.”

Women -70kg Japan 3 - 0 Brazil

World champion Arai Chizuru (JPN) put her country on the brink of winning gold as she outlasted Maria Portela (BRA) in golden score. A shido against the Brazilian handed the contest and a third win to Japan.

Men -90kg Japan 4 - 0 Brazil

NAGASAWA Kenta (JPN) sealed the gold medals for Japan after Victor Penalber (BRA) lacked any fluidity and was penalised three times to receive hansoku-make. World number eight Nagasawa, who was only selected for the mixed team competition, dealt with former world bronze medallist PENALBER with relative ease as the Brazilian was below-par.

Women +70kg Japan 5 - 0 Brazil

There was no pressure for world silver medallist Asahina Sarah (JPN) when she squared off against Maria Altheman Suelen (BRA) and the Japanese was too powerful and energetic for her more experienced opponent despite fighting yesterday five times including a lung-busting and emotional +78kg final. The 20-year-old, who was supported by her parents and a huge delegations of teammates and members of the Japanese national team, held down the Brazilian for ippon after leading by two waza-ari scores.

Asahina: “After my individual silver medal yesterday, it is a huge satisfaction to finally grab the world title. The most wonderful feeling when you can listen to your national anthem standing on the top of the podium. It was my first experience as a member of the team event, so I was really nervous yesterday, but fortunately I could be sharp when the competition started in the morning, and as all the Japanese participants were doing great job, I am very satisfied with the results.”

Men +90kg Japan 6-0 Brazil

All Japan Judo champion Ojitani Takeshi (JPN) inflicted a sixth and final defeat for Brazil as double Olympic bronze medallist Rafael Silva (BRA) lost by waza-ari in the last contest of the 2017 Suzuki World Judo Championships.

In the first semi-final Japan bested South Korea 5-1 while Brazil humbled Russia 4-2 to decide the finalists at the first Mixed Team Event at the senior level.

In the first bronze medal match France routed Russia 5-1 as Mikhail Igolnikov (RUS) prevented a whitewash by defeating Axel Clerget. World bronze medallist Helene Receveaux, Benjamin Axus, Marie Eve Gahie, Romane Dicko and Olympic bronze medallist Cyrille Maret (FRA) all won their respective contests to send the French team onto the podium.  

In the second bronze medal match South Korea lost the opening contest against Canada and then won the next five in a one-sided match. Jessica Klimkait (CAN) was the only winner for Canada (v Kwon Youjeong) as double world bronze medallist An Changrim, Jeong Hye Jin, former world champion Gwak Donghan, Kim Minjeong and Kim Sungmin all prevailed.

Japan laid down a marker with a convincing victory on Sunday in front of International Olympic Committee President Dr. Thomas Bach.