Hifumi Abe Wins Second Olympic Gold, Uta Suffers Upset Loss

Hifumi Abe, the reigning Olympic champion in the men's 66-kilogram judo category, successfully defended his title at the Paris Games, bringing home Japan's second gold medal in the sport. His victory came just hours after his younger sister, Uta, suffered a shocking second-round defeat in the women's 52-kilogram category.

Hifumi's triumph was bittersweet, as it followed Uta's unexpected loss. He expressed his determination to make up for his sister's disappointment, stating, "My sister lost today, and it was a very difficult day, but I worked hard with the feeling that I had to do my best to make up for (it)."

In the final, Hifumi faced Willian Lima of Brazil, whom he defeated with an ippon throw. Earlier, he had overcome IJF top-ranked Denis Vieru of Moldova in the semifinals with a waza-ari throw.

Uta's loss came as a major surprise, as she is a four-time world champion and was heavily favored to win gold. She had taken an early lead with a waza-ari score, but was ultimately thrown by Diyora Keldiyorova of Uzbekistan with a spectacular "tani otoshi" reversal.

The defeat left Uta devastated, and she broke down in tears after the match. "I couldn't calm myself down when I lost since I've thought about the Olympics so much and done so much for this particular day," she said.

Despite the disappointment, Hifumi's victory provided a much-needed boost for the Japanese judo team. He expressed his gratitude for the support he received, stating, "This is an unforgettable memory for me. I felt I had no choice but to do my best as the older brother. I was able to keep my emotions in check.