Filipino Kodo Nakano outclassed by Italian opponent in Rio

The Philippines’ Kodo Nakano (blue) is buried underneath his opponent in Italy’s Matteo Marconcini during their men’s -81kg judo contest match of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 9, 2016. AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO—The Philippines’ Kodo Nakano ran into the much-superior grappling of Italy’s Matteo Marconcini here Tuesday morning and was eliminated from the judo event of the Rio Olympics at Carioca Arena 3.

Given a last-minute chance to shine on the world’s biggest sporting stage, the 25-year-old Filipino-Japanese was simply not up to it, losing by a lopsided 100-0 score in just over 3 minutes on the mat in their 81-kilogram contest.

In three three bold, lightning-quick strokes of genius Marconcini, the reigning World Cup champion, faked a left-hand lunge, grabbed Nakano’s left shoulder with his right and hurled him sideways, scoring the ippon.

The roar in the gallery died as quickly as it rose with the unranked Nakano, who speaks only Japanese despite having a Filipino mother, literally bowing out of the competition.

The 23-year-old Japan-based Nakano made it to Rio on a late invite from the international judo federation after an Iranian pulled out due to an injury.

“Nakano was simply not at par with his opponent,” said a national delegation official who watched the fight along with a sprinkling of flag-waving Filipino overseas workers.

“Marconcini showed why he is one of the world’s best in his class with his impressive movement.”