Fil-Japanese judoka eyes Youth Olympics

MANILA, Philippines - After striking gold in the 27th Southeast Asian Games, promising Fil-Japanese teener Kiyomi Watanabe sets her sights on the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and in the long run, the Olympiad in 2016 in Rio.

“She’ll prepare for the Youth Olympic Games next and after that, possibly the Brazil Olympics,” Watanabe’s Filipino mother, Irene, said on behalf of Kiyomi, who speaks little Filipino and English. 

The 17-year-old Watanabe has already qualified for next year’s YOG in Nanjing, China after pocketing a bronze medal in the -63kg  division of the 7th Asian Youth Judo Championships held in China early December .

Currently ranked fifth in her category in Japan, Watanabe will continue her training in her father’s homeland to gear up for the YOG. According to Irene, Kiyomi will compete in three big tournaments in Japan, including the tough All-Japan Senior High School meet.

“She will work on improving on newaza (grappling technique) because new judo rules focus more on mat works,” said the mother, herself a former judoka, adding they turned down offers by UAAP schools to play here.

The 5-foot-9 Watanabe won a breakthrough gold medal in the SEAG in Myanmar to better her bronze output the previous edition. Banking on her strength, Watanabe effortlessly carried five-time champion Thi Hoa Bui of Vietnam and threw her on the ground to end the gold medal match.

“She was a bit nervous at first but when she saw the Vietnamese somehow hurt, her confidence boosted,” said Irene.” Her opponent actually scored first – a yuko – but she was relaxed, knowing full well she can count on her specialty, which is newaza.”

Some in the judo community compares Watanabe to the legendary John Baylon, one of the most decorated athletes in Southeast Asia with 9 gold medals in the SEAG, the most in a single-medal sport.

“She’s our best bet for the Summer Olympics,” Phl coach Rolan Llamas was quoted after Watanabe’s SEAG triumph.