In what will be the final day of Judo competition for the Tokyo 2020 Australian Olympic Team of the Games, a sole Aussie will take to the mat in the iconic Nippon Budokan.
Aoife Coughlan is raring to go at the venue which first saw Judo introduced to the Olympic Games in 1964. This will be only the second time Coughlan has fought at the spiritual home of Judo.
Coughlan will contest the Women’s 70kg tournament, a class that many suggest is one of the toughest in world Judo.
The Australian will kick off her day with a match up against Kinaua Biribo of Kiribati in the round of 32. Biribo is one of only three athletes representing the Pacific Island nation of Kiribati at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the others taking part in athletics and Weightlifting competition.
The two have never met in previous competition.
However, all Aussie eyes will be on Coughlan who builds upon her family legacy in Judo. Brother Eoin competed for Australia at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and sister Maeve is an Australian representative judoka. Who knows, perhaps Maeve will fight for Australia in Paris in three years’ time.
But it is Coughlan’s time to etch her name in the history books.
Coughlan comes off the back of a series of strong results in recent tournaments including a seventh placing at the World Judo Championships in Hungary last month.
“Becoming an Olympian has been a goal of mine since a young age and I'm excited and proud to represent Australia at the Games,” Coughlan said upon making the Olympic Team.
Although there are no guaranteeing results, there is no doubt that Coughlan, like 2020 Judokas Katz and Haecker, will leave everything on the mat and make her country proud.
Fights at the Nippon Budokan begin at 12:00pm (AEST).
Matthew Barnard
Have A Go at Judo
Judo
WHAT IS
JUDO
JUDO
Judo involves two individuals who, by gripping the judo uniform or judogi, use the forces of balance, power, and movement to attempt to subdue each other. In its simplicity, however, lies its complexity, and mastery of even the most basic of judo techniques that often take considerable time, effort, and energy, involving rigorous physical and mental training
- Judo does not involve kicking, punching, or striking techniques of any kind
- Judo does not involve the application of pressure against the joints to throw an opponent
- Judo involves no equipment or weapons of any sort
WHAT
YOU’LL NEED
YOU’LL NEED
Judogis (jacket and pants) are the traditional uniform of judo and are worn with belt, which can be different colours, signifying your judo grade. Some clubs will lend you a Judogi during your trial membership and beginners can wear clothing with no zips to their first sessions. Beginner Gi’s are not expensive and your local club will assist in finding the right one for you.
HOW MUCH?
Try Judo for free at your closest club with a 4-week trial membership!
