Nagoya, Sept. 20 (Jiji Press)–Takumi Hojo won the men’s triathlon at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Sunday, bringing Japan its first gold medal at the 2026 Games and marking the country’s fifth consecutive victory in the event. In the women’s individual karate, Japan’s Maho Ono won the gold medal, the ninth consecutive win for Japan since karate became an official sport at the 1994 Hiroshima Games. In teqball, a new sport combining elements of soccer and table tennis, Japan’s Yuina Sakamoto grabbed the women’s singles bronze medal. Hojo, with his fiery red hair, crossed the finish line to a roar of cheers. He took a satisfying sip of water and broke into a broad smile. “From the moment I learned this would be the first medal for Japan, I put pressure on myself going into the race,” said Hojo. “I’m happy I was able to pull off the win.” Although he was unable to lead during the swim, his strongest discipline, he advanced to the front of the leading pack on the bike. During the run, he surged ahead early on and, after a head-to-head battle with China’s Zhang Xirui, pulled away with a long sprint to take a decisive lead. “I was determined to keep pushing forward until my opponent fell behind. The race unfolded exactly as I had imagined,” Hojo reflected with satisfaction. Hojo had dyed his hair to match the theme of the Asian Games. “It’s still a little embarrassing,” he said shyly, gently touching the medal hanging around his neck. “I was finally able to have a race that I can truly celebrate from the bottom of my heart,” said Hojo, gaining solid confidence in the lead-up to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
