World champion Ono triumphs at national invitational judo tourney

Fukuoka - World champion Shohei Ono won his second national invitational judo weight class championship title on Sunday in the men’s 73-kg division.

Ono, who won his first title two years ago, defeated London Olympic silver medal winner Riki Nakaya in the final on the last day of the tournament that serves as the final qualifier for this summer’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Takanori Nagase, who also won the gold medal at the world championships last August, claimed his third straight title in the 81-kg class at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

Masashi Ebinuma, the bronze medal winner the London Games, fell to a semifinal ippon defeat to eventual and first-time winner Hifumi Abe in the 66-kg class, while Toru Shishime also won the 60-kg title for the first time.

Among the women, Ami Kondo won her second title in the 48-kg class after her rival for the Olympic berth, Haruna Asami, was eliminated in the first round.

Misato Nakamura claimed the 52-kg crown for the sixth straight time, while Tsukasa Yoshida won her first 57-kg class title after reigning Olympic champion Kaori Matsumoto went out in the semifinals.

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