Nagoya, Oct. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japan broke its record for medals won at a single Asian Games at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Friday, exceeding its previous record of 218 medals set at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games in western Japan. The Asian nation further increased its medal tally to 240 on the 14th day of the quadrennial sporting tournament held mainly in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan. The Japanese women’s national soccer team, known as Nadeshiko Japan, faced North Korea in the final and secured its third consecutive title by winning a penalty shootout after the match ended 2-2. In sailing, Japan’s Tetsuya Isozaki and Yurie Seki won a gold medal for the host nation in the mixed dinghy event. “We were expecting nothing but gold,” Isozaki said, expressing his relief. Japan added to its already stacked medal count in judo, with Ryotaro Masuchi and Riku Okada winning gold in the men’s 100-kilogram and 90-kg events, respectively. Masuchi’s father, Katsuyuki, a former head coach of the Japanese women’s judo national team, won gold in the men’s open weight class at the Hiroshima Asian Games 32 years ago. “I think my father would be happy about the father-son gold duo,” the younger Masuchi said. He also celebrated his victory at the venue with his mother, Chiyori, who won bronze in the women’s 56-kg judo class at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Okada said, “I’m glad that I was able to show myself winning to people who supported me.” Women’s judo also brought Japan medals, in the form of a 78-kg gold by Mizuki Sugimura. After beating a South Korean opponent in the golden score, or overtime, period, a tearful Sugimura said, “In the last minutes, I promised myself that I would win through perseverance.” In boxing, Rui Yamaguchi stood at the top of the men’s 55-kg podium. “My efforts so far were not in vain,” he said. Yui Susaki, who already has one Olympic gold and one bronze under her belt, added an Asian Games gold to her medal collection after winning the women’s wrestling 50-kg event. In canoe slalom, Yuki Tanaka added a gold medal in the men’s kayak cross event, after securing a kayak single silver earlier at Aichi-Nagoya. In track cycling, Yumi Kajihara clinched her third consecutive Asian Games title in the women’s omnium. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
