Japan judo queen ends China's heavyweight reign

GUANGZHOU: Japan's new world judo queen Mika Sugimoto has ended China's heavyweight reign at the Asian Games, but is taking nothing for granted ahead of her maiden battle for Olympic gold in 2012.

Sugimoto, who beat Qin Qian twice in the women's +78kg and open-class finals at the world championships in Tokyo two months ago, whipped her again to clinch the Asiad heavyweight title which had been monopolised by China.

But this time, her victory did not come easily against Qin, 20 centimetres taller.

The +78kg final ended in a 2-1 decision for Sugimoto after neither scored a technical point in regulation five minutes and three extra "golden score" minutes.

Still hers was Japan's only gold medal on the first day of judo at the Guangzhou Asian Games where the country aims to regain the number one spot from China in the gold medal race following their record 10-gold onslaught at the Tokyo worlds.

Sugimoto completed the double in Tokyo in the absence of China's Tong Wen who had dominated the world heavyweight division since 2005 but was banned for two years for doping in May.

At the worlds, China had also swept the +78kg title since 2001 with Tong triumphing in 2005, 2007 and 2009.

Sugimoto has also emerged from the shadow of Athens Olympics +78kg gold medallist Maki Tsukada as Japan's top heavyweight. Her previous career best was the open-class world bronze in 2008 when Qin finished fifth.

Tsukada retired from international competition after settling for bronze in Tokyo where each country was allowed to field two competitors in each division for the first time.