A playoff to determine who would represent the women's 68 kg wrestling team at the Paris Olympics was held in Tokyo, and Nonoka Ozaki defeated Ami Ishii to become the first Olympic wrestler to represent the team.
In the women's 68kg wrestling category, Ishii, a third-year student at Ikuei University in Gunma Prefecture, won a spot at the Paris Olympics at the world championships last September, but was unable to meet the conditions for an offer.
Therefore, based on the selection rules set by the Japan Wrestling Association, Ozaki and Ishii, third-year students from Keio University who won last month's All-Japan Championship, will play off each other in a playoff, and the winner will be selected to represent the team.
In the playoffs held at the National Training Center in Kita Ward, Tokyo on the 27th, Ozaki was leading 1-0 just before the end of the first half when he made a skillful move to get behind his opponent and make it 3-0.
However, in the second half, they lost one point due to a foul due to their passive attitude, and with less than 10 seconds remaining, Ishii lost his balance and got behind him, resulting in the score being 3-4.
However, Ozaki immediately fought back and with less than 5 seconds left, he made his signature one-legged tackle to score a point and win 5-4.
As a result, Ozaki has been selected to represent the Olympic Games for the first time, and all six weight classes for women's wrestling have been selected.
Nonoka Ozaki: “I was able to win with my weapons, so I want to thank my skills.”
Nonoka Ozaki said, ``I haven't really felt it yet, but I'm really happy. I've been coming this past month with the idea of staying in shape and sticking to my aggressive wrestling style. I was in despair when I was reversed in the final stages, but... In the end, I was able to win with my own weapons, so I want to thank my skills,'' he said with joy.
Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics, she said, ``It may be said that it is difficult for Japanese women to win medals in the heavyweight division, but I am aiming for a gold medal and I think I can do it. "I want to take responsibility and do my best to win the gold medal," he said with great enthusiasm.
Ami Ishii: ``It was a match in which I was in the best possible condition.''
Ami Ishii, who lost, reflected, ``It was a match in which I played in the best possible condition.Thanks to my teammates who came from Gunma to support me, I was able to play the match without any tension.''
Regarding the fact that he conceded a comeback with less than 10 seconds left in the game, he said, ``I thought I could make it back and went to get the points.After that, I thought it would be the Olympics if I could protect the remaining time, but I was a little calm.'' "I was so grateful for the blessings of the people around me, but I really wanted to go to the Olympics," she said with tears streaming down her face.