Hangai’s Late Waza-ari Sets the Tone in Nagoya

Shizuka Hangai claimed the opening gold medal of the 2026 Asian Para Games Judo finals in the J1W -52 kg category. The Japanese judoka recovered from an early Yuko against Mongolia’s Suvd-Erdene Togtokhbayar and found the decisive Waza-ari with Ippon-seoi-nage near the end of the contest.

The final block began after a Juno-Kata demonstration from sisters Mariko and Momoko Ishida. The pair, who have won six world kata titles in Juno-Kata, brought a calm moment before the medal contests delivered fast attacks, throws and close finishes across the first five categories.

Hangai had needed time to settle during the morning session, but her confidence grew as the day progressed. In the final, Togtokhbayar struck first with a Kata-guruma for Yuko in the opening minute. Hangai kept working, then turned the contest around late in the contest and protected her lead through to the gong.

Hangai’s comeback delivered Japan’s first champion of the Games.

China’s Shiwen Zhu took J1M -70 kg gold after a rapid final against Junaedi of Indonesia. Zhu registered an early Yuko and maintained the pressure, ending the contest inside the first minute with Osaekomi-waza for Ippon.

Another tight final came in J1W -60 kg, where China’s Yijie SHI faced Uljon Amrieva of Uzbekistan. Neither athlete scored during the opening three and a half minutes despite major attacks from both sides. With seven seconds left, SHI produced an action that was reviewed and awarded Yuko, securing the title.

In J2M -70 kg, Kazakhstan’s Ibragim Nurmakhanuly and Uzbekistan’s Kerman Nurillaev lived up to their status as the top two seeds. Nurmakhanuly scored a Waza-ari in the second exchange, but Nurillaev quickly equalised. Nurmakhanuly regrouped and added another Waza-ari to take gold.

The J2W -52 kg final ended quickly as Aibike Ulanbek Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan met India’s Kokila. Ulanbek Kyzy threw with a powerful Seoi-otoshi for Ippon in less than a minute, completing a direct run to the top of the podium.

The first finals session also produced bronze medals for athletes from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, India, Indonesia, China and Japan. Day two is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, 20 October, at 10am in Japan (3am in Luxembourg).

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation