Japanese judoka got off to a strong start for a potential gold rush Saturday as four world titlists cruised into the semifinals at the Asian Games.
In the men's bracket, world champions Daiki Kamikawa (over 100 kg) and Takamasa Anai (100 kg) won their first two rounds to safely book their spots in the final four.
Double world champion Mika Sugimoto and world bronze medalist Akari Ogata reached the semis in the over 78 kg and 78 kg, respectively, in women's action.
Kamikawa, who deployed an inner leg sweep for an easy ippon over Zahid Iqbal of Pakistan in his first match, swept Kyrgyzstan's Iurii Krakovetskii to the floor to make the top four.
Anai, scored inner leg ippon wins against Zein Tamra of Lebanon in his first match and Iran's Javad Mahjoub in the second.
Sugimoto, world champion at over 78 kg and in the open weight class, needed only 34 seconds for an ippon victory over Thontan Bunduang of Thailand.