HANGZHOU, China — The struggle continues for the national judo squad as Dylwynn Gimena and Carl Dave Aseneta bombed out in the 19th Asian Games at the Xiaoshan Linpu Gymnasium here on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Gimena fell prey to Khuslen Otgonbayar of Mongolia via ippon in the Round of 16 of the women’s -78-kilogram class while the 26-year-old Aseneta surrendered to Won Jonghoon of South Korea also via ippon in the Round of 16 of the men’s -100-kg event.

With that, the national squad suffered a shutout in individual events as all of its athletes failed to advance past the quarterfinals.

Their brightest hope in former Asian Games silver medalist Kiyomi Watanabe started hot as she beat her Vietnamese foe in the Round of 16 but fell prey to the Japanese top seed in the quarterfinals of the women’s -63-kg category.

Philippine Judo Federation secretary general said their athletes were prepared but luck simply didn’t go their way.

“They were ready to compete but the luck of the draw didn’t go our way,” said Carter, whose wards were backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Also going home without individual medals are Leah Jhane Lopez (women’s -48-kg), Shugen Nakano (men’s -66-kg), Rena Furukawa (women’s 57-kg), John Viron Ferrer (men’s -80-kg), Ryoko Salinas (women’s -70-kg), and Kyodo Nakano (men’s -73-kg).

The Filipinos, however, still have a chance to come up with a strong finish as they compete in the mixed team event on the final day of competition on Wednesday. (ai/mnm)

Image Courtesy of Philippine Star

HANGZHOU, China — Kiyomi Watanabe and four other Filipino judokas suffered crushing losses in the judo competition of the 19th Asian Games on Monday at the Xiaoshan Linpu Gymnasium here.

Watanabe, who emerged with a silver medal in the previous edition of the Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018, fell prey to a Japanese powerhouse in the quarterfinals to bomb out of medal contention of the women’s -63-kilogram class.

Two-time world silver medalist Miku Takaichi flaunted her strength as she threw the 27-year-old Watanabe for an ippon in the first 12 seconds of their match and booked a slot in the semifinals.

Watanabe was relegated to repechage but lost to Esmigul Kuyolova of Kazakhstan also via ippon in the first 13 seconds of their encounter.

“Our athletes are in good condition,” Philippine Judo Federation Secretary General Dave Carter said.

“But we got unlucky in the draw. Our athletes got paired against the top seeds in Asia. We will work hard and be more prepared next time.”

Also bombing out early were Keisei Nakano, Rena Furukawa, John Ferrer, and Ryoko Salinas.

The 26-year-old Nakano lost to Asian Games silver medalist Behruzi Khojazoda of Tajikistan via ippon in the Round of 16 of the men’s -73-kg while Furukawa fell prey to Momo Tanaoki of Japan also via ippon in the Round of 16 of the women’s -57-kg event.

Ferrer, for his part, sizzled early as he beat Janga Bahadur Saru of Nepal in the Round of 32 of the men’s 81-kg class before bowing to Bolor-Ochir Gereltuya of Mongolia in the Round of 16.

Salinas also had a good chance when she beat Garima Choundhary of India in the Round of 16 of the women’s 70-kg class.

She, however, surrendered to Shiho Tanaka of Japan, who posted an ippon in the first 45 seconds of their battle to secure a spot in the semifinals, before losing to Liao Wun Jung of Chinese Taipei in the repechage to close his Asiad stint on a sour note.

Still, the national judo squad has a chance to salvage some measure of pride as Carl Dave Aseneta and Dylwynn Gimena compete in the resumption of the tourney on Tuesday. (ai/mnm)

HANGZHOU, China – The battle will not be easy for Kiyomi Watanabe and the Filipino judokas in the 19th Asian Games here.

Philippine Judo Federation Secretary General Dave Carter admitted that other countries have improved significantly, making it harder for them to win their first gold medal in the prestigious quadrennial meet.

Leah Jane Lopez will open the country’s campaign when she battles Abiba Abuzhaknyova of Kazakhstan in the Round of 16 of the women’s 48-kilogram on Sunday at the Xiaoshan Linpu Gymnasium here.

Also wading into battle is Shugen Nakano, who will face Saoud Alamiri of Kuwait in the Round of 32 of the men’s 66-kilogram.

The 26-year-old Nakano clinched the gold medal in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi in 2022 before settling for silver in the 32nd biennial meet in Cambodia last May.

He will be competing against a 21-year-old Kuwaiti who finished fifth in the 2023 Arab Judo Championships and seventh in the 2021 Asia-Oceania Judo Championships.

Aside from Nakano and Lopez, comprising the national judo squad are Kessie Nakano (men’s 73-kg), John Viron Ferrer (men’s 81-kg), Carl Dave Aseneta (men’s 100-kg), Rena Furukawa (women’s 57-kg), Ryoko Salinas (women’s 70-kg), Dylwynn Gimena (women’s 78-kg), and Watanabe (women’s 63-kg).

Their coaches are Franco Teves, Gilbert Ramirez, and Olympian Kodo Nakano in this four-day tourney that drew 203 competitors from 28 countries.

“Winning the gold medal will not be easy. But if we’re talking about medals of any color, I think our athletes have a chance,” said Carter, whose wards were supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Watanabe, 27, is the country’s brightest hope to win a medal.

She is a former SEA Games champion but missed the Hanoi edition in 2022 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

In the previous Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018, she had a dominant run to the final but lost to Japanese powerhouse Nabi Nabekura in the gold medal match. “Realistically speaking, it won’t be easy,” Carter said.

“After her first match on Monday, she will be facing the top player in Asia. It’s gonna be tough.”

(ai/mnm)