Tokyo Olympics-bound judoka Kiyomi Watanabe has the skills to compete for a medal against the best athletes in the world, Philippine Judo Federation (PJF) president Dave Carter said Tuesday, June 29.
The 24-year-old Watanabe, the first Filipina to earn an Olympic berth in judo, is among the top bets in the women’s -63 kg class in the Tokyo Olympics set July 24 to August 8.
According to Carter, Watanabe’s performance in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia is a prime example of how capable the Filipino-Japanese is to be a podium finisher.
“Kagaya lang din nung lumaban siya ng Asian Games nung nakaraan. It happened,” said Carter in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum online edition.
“She defeated Korea and the others na nandun sa bracket niya. Kaya anything is possible talaga. Lahat possible. Hindi natin nililimitahan yung kakayanan ng ating manlalaro. Malakas itong player natin na ito, pati yung puso niya. Talagang fighter ito.”
Watanabe claimed a spot in the Tokyo Olympics via continental quota, which was certified by the International Judo Federation.
While she is the first Filipina judoka to make the Olympics, she is the third consecutive bet from the judo team to participate in the Summer Games after Tomohiko Hoshina and Kodo Nakano in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro editions, respectively.
Carter said that the world No. 39 Watanabe is focused on her preparation, which includes a high-altitude training in the mountains near her area in Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan.
“OK naman si Kiyomi, pero yung coach niya pinapalayo siya sa pressure,” said Carter. “Of course, a lot of people want to interview her, and alam ninyo naman medyo shy itong si Kiyomi.”
“At ang style niya lalo siyang nape-pressure parang naaapektuhan ang game niya. Maganda yung iniiisip niya maglalaro lang siya sa bayan,” said Carter in the same session powered by Smart and Upstream Media as the official webcast partner.”
“Alam naman natin yung pressure hindi naman parehas ang epekto sa iba’t ibang manlalaro,” he added.
Carter said that what Watanabe needs is to win at least five to six matches to make the gold medal round. But three wins in the pool play would assure her of making it to the quarterfinals.
“Pag umabot siya ng quarterfinals, medyo may laban na siya diyan,” said Carter, adding entries from Europe, Brazil, France, Slovenia, and Germany are among the top bets in Kiyomi’s category.
Judo in the Tokyo Olympics will start on July 24, while Watanabe kicks off her campaign on the 27th.