Former World Champion Returns to National Stage

Sara Asahina (29), the 2021 World Championship champion in the over 78kg category, has secured her place in the All-Japan Women’s Championship, set to take place on April 19th in Yokohama. This qualification marks her return to the national championship after a three-year absence and will be her tenth participation in the event.

The Tokyo Women’s Judo Championship, which concluded on March 15th, served as a qualifying round for the All Japan Women’s Championship. The top eight competitors earned the right to compete in the upcoming national tournament.

Path to Qualification

Asahina won three consecutive matches by decision in the second round. She received a bye in the quarterfinals due to the absence of Mao Izumi (29, Komatsu). In the semi-finals, she faced Mizuki Hasegawa (25 = JR East), but lost by decision after a scoreless match.

Asahina previously participated in the All Japan Women’s Championship in 2012, achieving a third-place finish. She won the championship in 2017 and has also secured runner-up and third-place finishes on three separate occasions.

Balancing Judo with Medical Studies

Asahina is currently a medical student at Dokkyo Medical University. She competed last year without sufficient practice, resulting in a first-round loss. Since September of last year, she has been training seriously at Sakushin Gakuin High School in Tochigi, supplementing her judo training with practices alongside the Dokkyo Medical University Rugby Club.

She has not competed in any international tournaments since the Grand Slam Baku in September 2023 and is not currently pursuing a spot on the Olympic or World Championship roster.

“I’m glad that my first goal was to participate in the main tournament. I think it’s a great accomplishment to appear in the main event 10 times, so I wanted to build it happen,”

Sara Asahina

Asahina expressed her relief at qualifying and emphasized her commitment to establishing herself as a role model. I want to increase my value so that children can look up to me. she stated.

Looking Ahead to All-Japan Championship

Asahina’s primary focus is now on the All-Japan Championship. My biggest goal right now is to have a good match at All Japan. she said.

FAQ

• How many times has Sara Asahina participated in the All-Japan Women’s Championship? This will be her 10th participation.
• When is the All-Japan Women’s Championship? April 19th in Yokohama.
• What is Asahina studying? She is a medical student at Dokkyo Medical University.