‘Ahead among the rest,’ Kiyomi Watanabe headed for another Olympics

Judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, who served as the flag bearer for the Philippines in Tokyo, is going to Paris Olympics. (Photo by Martin BUREAU / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Judo Federation is thrilled to have another bet in the Olympics after Kiyomi Watanabe punched her ticket to the 2024 Paris Games.

Watanabe will be embarking on Olympics journey, having represented the Philippines in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Her qualification was officially announced on Tuesday.

“We’re fortunate we have more than enough number of athletes trying to qualify for the Olympics within the continental qualifier,” said PJF president Ali Sulit during a send-off organized by Philippine Airlines for Paris-bound Filipino athletes.

READ: PH judoka Kiyomi Watanabe bows out of Tokyo Olympics

“But it seems that Kiyomi is ahead among the rest.”

Watanabe joined the Philippines’ delegation after qualifying through the continental quota.

The Cebuana judoka ranked No. 92 in the world,  leading her to secure one of the two Asian quotas in the women’s -63kg division.

“We’re thankful for that and we appreciate the efforts of all our athletes who have been trying to qualify for the Olympics,” Sulit said.

Watanabe joins Paris-bound Philippine delegation that includes boxers Nesthy Petecio, Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam, Hergie Bacyadan and Aira Villegas, weightlifters John Ceniza, Elreen Ando and Vanessa Sarno and pole vaulter EJ Obiena, to name a few.