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Former Japanese champion Kaihan Takagi debuts in Osaka for Australia

Former Japanese champion Kaihan Takagi debuts in Osaka for Australia

22 Nov 2018 10:05
Fijlkam - Emanuele Di Feliciantonio

Former All Japan Champion Kaihan Takagi will make his debut at the Grand Slam in Osaka for Australia. Ozcicek-Takagi Kayhan is in the draw in a tough pool with Korean Won Jong-Hoon and then Dutchman Michael Korrel. It rarely happens than a Japanese fighter switches to another country. Christa Deguchi the most successful switcher and will now fight this Friday U57kg for Canada.

Takagi was the Japanese title U100kg in 2015 and became Asian Champion. He competes for the third time at the Grand Slam, in 2014 he finished seventh and fought four contests, in 2015 the expectations were higher but he lost in the second round. The 27-year old won the World Cup in Vienna in 2010 at the age of 19. This year he won the Australian title  in June. Australia picked up judoka from various countries in the past. The most well known is Hall of Famer Mária Pékli and current successful Olympian is Katharina Haecker.

Takagi defeated judoka U100kg such as former World and Olympic champions Ryunosuke Haga, Luciano Correa, Maxim Rakov, Naidan Tuvshinbayar in his time he fought for Japan. Not the easiest opponent in that pool this weekend in Osaka.

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