PH JUDOKA KIYOMI STILL IN THE HUNT FOR HER PARIS OLYMPIC DREAM

AFTER failing to get trip ticket to Paris Olympics in the World Judo Championship in Azerbaijan, Tokyo Olympic veteran Filipino-Japanese Kiyomi Watanabe returns to judo mat to pursue ber dream and engage in another slambang action against top-rated judokas in Turkey Grandslam which unfurls March 29-31 in the tourist city Antalya.

Fighting under long time personal Japanese coach Yazaki Yuta, who guided her to silver medal finished in the Asian Games in Indonesia and many tournaments in Japan, Watanabe match wit and skill against her rivals in the minus 63 kilograms she dominated in the Southeast Asian Games from 2013 to 2019 in Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Watanabe did not compete in Vietnam and Cambodia and was recuperating from her injury she got in training and long years of competitions.

Determined and in high spirit, Watanabe is all out to win in Turkey to compete for the second time in the Olympics in Paris where she won bronze medal in the Paris Grandslam after winning the silver in the European Judo in Austria where former World Games champion Carlo Biado Johann Chua at Rubilyn Amit captured the World 10-Ball beating Jayson Shaw led Great Britain, 3-0.

A total of 254 judokas from 60 countries are taking part in the three days organized by the International Judo Federation and first time held in Turkey. The tournament is among the seven major events of IJF.

The 27-year-old, 5-foot-7 Watanabe is determined to win to avoid compete in the qualifying sa 2024 Asian Championship Individual slated April 20 in Hong Kong.

“The competition is tough and highly competitive. Top judokas are competing in her division. Hopefully, Watanabe makes it and compete in Paris,” said former Philippine Judo Federation president now secretary general Dave Carter in an interview at the Philippine Sports Commission conference room.

Watanabe and fellow Filipino-Japanese Davao born world ranked and SEA Games gold medalist Keisei Nakano competed in the 73kg in the 2024 World Judo in Baku, Azerbaijan.

It was in Azerbaijan chess prodigy Janelle Mae Frayna got her coveted Women Grandmaster title in the Chess Olympiad in Baku.

Watanabe won the gold in the Asian Youth Judo in Uzbekistan, bronze in Asian Judo in Hainan, China, All-Japan and Inter-University Judo Championship.

The competition of Watanabe and Nakano is shouldered by the Philippine Sports Commission and supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Tokyo Olympic veteran Kiyomi Watanabe