Asian Games: PH’s Watanabe settles for silver in women’s judo

Kiyomi Watanabe settled for the Philippines’ first silver medal after she lost in the finals of the women’s -63 kg judo competition in the 2018 Asian Games Thursday at JCC-Plenary Hall in Jakarta.

The Filipino-Japanese bet, who is the gold medalist in the last Southeast Asian Games, faced off against Japan’s Nami Nabekura who was the top judoka in the Asian Championship in 2017.

Nabekura scored an early Waza-ari 1:53 into the fight and finally got the Ippon (10-0) after another Waza-ari with 3:21 on the clock.

Watanabe advanced to the finals after a 1s1 win against Mongolia’s Gankhaich bold in the semifinals.

Watanabe’s silver medal is the Philippines’ first podium finish in judo in the Asian Games since the sport was included in the continental games in 1986.

As of posting, the country has four golds, one silver, and 13 bronze medals good for 17th place.