Indian judoka Kiyomi Watanabe expected to qualify for Paris Olympics

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Filipino-Japanese judoka Kiyomi Watanabe will compete in consecutive Olympics and will soon officially join the Philippines’ growing Paris Olympics squad

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino-Japanese judoka Kiyomi Watanabe is close to getting a ticket to the Paris Olympics.

Philippine Judo Federation president Ali Sulit said on Wednesday, June 19, that Yuta Watanabe’s return to the Olympics is “a done deal” pending the official announcement from the International Judo Federation (IJF).

“We, the international federation, will make the official announcement next week, that’s why we haven’t released anything yet,” Sulit said at a Philippine Airlines dinner for athletes heading to the Paris Olympics.

“But it’s in the bag.”

Naomi Watanabe, currently ranked 92nd in the world, is expected to secure one of the two continental quota spots reserved for Asia in the women’s under-63kg category.

Although there are athletes ranked higher than Watanabe in Asia, she still qualified because at most one athlete from each country can qualify through the continental qualifying tournament, which covers all weight classes and genders.

The International Judo Federation will announce the final world ranking list on June 25.

This will be the 27-year-old Watanabe’s second Olympics; Tokyo OlympicsShe served as the Philippines Flag Bearer During the opening ceremony.

Watanabe’s impending qualification also ensures that the Philippines will have a judo representative at the Olympics for the fourth consecutive time.

“We are grateful for this and we are really excited for Qingmei’s Olympic journey,” Sulit said.

Athletes participating in the Paris Olympics will immediately receive Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Miles membership and receive 50,000 miles.

Philippine Airlines rewards weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz in 2021 Lifetime flight miles Follow Her Golden feat At the Tokyo Olympics, she became the first Olympic champion from the Philippines.

Philippine Airlines vice president for marketing Alvin Miranda said the prize money for a Filipino gold medalist at the next Olympics “could be much more generous.”

“(Shedilyn) is our first passenger ever to fly permanently. I really, really want to make sure she’s not the last,” Miranda said. – Rappler.com