JAPAN AT THE DOUBLE
JAPAN had a dream start to the Olympic judo competition when first Ryoko Tamura and then Tadahiro Nomura won the bantamweight divisions, dominating their categories with outstanding classical techniques.
In the past eight years, Tamura, 25, has lost just twice - in the finals of the Barcelona and then Atlanta Olympics. She has won everything else, including four world titles.
She made no mistake in the final when she took less than a minute to throw Liubov Brouletova of Russia with a clean uchimata (inner thigh throw).
Tadahiro Nomura became the first bantamweight in Olympic history to successfully defend his title - also with a series of spectacular throws.
His final, against Bu-Kyung Jung of Korea lasted just 14 seconds.
Britain's Victoria Dunn won her first match against Natalya Kuligina, of Khyigistan, but then lost the next two fights. And John Buchanan was outfought by Oscar Penas of Spain.
PETER WATTS
Sunday Times
