Natsumi Tsunoda secured Japan's first gold medal at this year's Asian Games on Sunday by winning the women's 48-kilogram division in judo.
Japanese judoka Natsumi Tsunoda (top) wrestles with Abiba Abuzhakynova of Kazakhstan in the women's 48-kilogram division final at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 24, 2023. (Kyodo)
Tsunoda, who has won the last three world championships at this weight and has already been selected to compete at next summer's Paris Olympics, beat Abiba Abuzhakynova of Kazakhstan by ippon through a cross arm lock in just over two minutes.
The 31-year-old won her second straight Asian Games gold, having won the 52-kg title in Indonesia in 2018.
Judoka Natsumi Tsunoda poses with Japan's first gold medal of this year's Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 24, 2023. (Kyodo)
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