Japan hold untainted reign in men’s judo, Funk overtakes kayak world no1 Fox
Tokyo, Jul 27 (EFE).- Japan climbed ahead of the United States and China to the top of the medal board of the Tokyo 2020 Games, aided by a clean 4/4 gold medals record in men’s judo, while Olympic newbie Ricarda Funk won first gold for Germany in the women’s kayak slalom.
Takanori Nagase won the men’s -81kg judo final, maintaining Japan’s clean unsubdued record in judo with four out of four gold medals in the men’s competitions of the martial art discipline, alongside fellow male athletes Shohei Ono (-73kg), Hifumi Abe (-66kg), and Naohisa Takato (-60kg).
Olympics newcomer Ricarda Funk won first gold for Germany in Tokyo 2020 in the women’s kayak slalom, battling the rushing waters in a 105.50 seconds run and overtaking Spain’s defending Rio 2016 champion Maialen Chourraut, second this year, and world number 1 Jessica Fox of Australia, in third.
New Zealand’s heavyweight boxer David Nyika punched his ticket to the quarter finals, beating Morocco’s Youness Baalla who attempted to bite the Kiwi’s ear during the final round, uncharacteristically muddying the Olympic fight.
Team USA beat women’s volleyball defending gold medalists China during preliminary matches in an early clash of the titans, leaving a cumbersome path ahead to qualify for quarter finals for the Chinese, who are still to win any matches.
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