Japan continued its dominant run at the World Judo Championships on Tuesday as Shiho Tanaka and Sanshiro Murao secured gold medals, bringing the nation’s total to six out of the ten titles awarded so far during the five-day competition in Budapest.
Shiho Tanaka claimed the women’s under-70 kilogram title, marking the first individual world championship gold of her career. Tanaka, who had taken bronze at last year’s championships in Abu Dhabi, demonstrated remarkable composure and skill in the final, overcoming the top-ranked judoka in the world, Croatia’s Lara Cvjetko. Cvjetko, who was also the silver medalist in 2022, settled for silver once again after a hard-fought contest.
On the men’s side, 24-year-old Sanshiro Murao added to Japan’s success by winning the under-90 kg category. Murao, who earned an Olympic silver medal in his weight class, faced a familiar rival in the final—defending world champion and fellow Japanese judoka Goki Tajima. After an intense and tactical battle lasting eight minutes and thirty seconds, Murao emerged victorious on penalties, underscoring the high level of competition among Japanese athletes in this division.
Despite his impressive Olympic record with two gold medals, Georgian judoka Lasha Bekauri was knocked out earlier than expected, eliminated in the round of 16. Bekauri, also 24, has yet to secure a world championship gold medal, a notable absence in his otherwise illustrious career.
Japan’s continued excellence at these championships reaffirms its position as a judo powerhouse, with strong performances across multiple weight categories showcasing the depth of talent within the country’s ranks. The team’s focus on technical precision, strategic discipline, and physical conditioning continues to pay dividends on the global stage.
As the championships progress, all eyes will remain on Japan to see if they can extend their impressive gold medal haul further in the remaining events.
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