Gold medalist Niu Xinran of China reacts during the awarding ceremony for the women +78kg final of Judo at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
NAGOYA, Japan, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's Niu Xinran came from behind to throw South Korea's Lee Hyeonji for an ippon in the women's +78kg final on Friday, claiming China's first judo gold of the 2026 Asian Games while host Japan took three of the day's five titles.
Lee took the lead with a yuko, but Niu caught her trying to rise and brought her down 26 seconds later. The contest was over after just one minute and 46 seconds.
"I felt there was still plenty of time and I had a chance to get the score back," Niu said. Her coach had urged her to set aside their previous encounters and face Lee as if they had never fought before.
"I had beaten everyone else, but I had never won against her," Lee cried after the match. "I prepared really hard, but it seems my preparation still wasn't enough."
China's Han Qi added a bronze in the men's -90kg division.
Japan's Riku Okada beat defending champion Erlan Sherov of Kyrgyzstan in golden score to win the men's -90kg title. Ryotaro Masuchi defeated Tajikistan's Dzhakhongir Madzhidov by ippon in the men's -100kg final, following in the footsteps of his father, who won judo gold at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.
Mizuki Sugimura secured Japan's third title in the women's -78kg final after South Korea's Kim Minju received a third penalty in golden score and was disqualified.
Uzbekistan's Muzaffarbek Turoboyev took the remaining gold, beating Japan's Hyoga Ota in the men's +100kg final. Turoboyev won the -100kg title at the previous Games in Hangzhou.
"I am absolutely delighted," he said. "My goal was to become a two-time Asian Games champion and win gold in two different weight classes."
China's Wu Hongtao and Huang Fuchun each finished joint fifth in the women's -78kg and men's -100kg divisions, respectively. Li Haiyang placed joint seventh in the men's +100kg.
Japan finished the individual competitions with eight of the 14 gold medals. The mixed team event takes place on Saturday. ■
Gold medalist Niu Xinran (2nd L) of China, reacts with silver medalist Lee Hyeonji (1st L) of South Korea and bronze medalists Amarsaikhan Adiyasuren (2nd R) of Mongolia and Mukunoki Miki of Japan during the awarding ceremony for the women +78kg final of Judo at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
Gold medalist Niu Xinran (2nd L) of China, poses with silver medalist Lee Hyeonji (1st L) of South Korea and bronze medalists Amarsaikhan Adiyasuren (2nd R) of Mongolia and Mukunoki Miki of Japan during the awarding ceremony for the women +78kg final of Judo at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
Niu Xinran (R) of China competes against Lee Hyeonji of South Korea during the women +78kg final of Judo at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
Niu Xinran of China celebrates after defeating Lee Hyeonji of South Korea during the women +78kg final of Judo at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
Niu Xinran of China celebrates after defeating Lee Hyeonji of South Korea during the women +78kg final of Judo at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
Niu Xinran of China celebrates after defeating Lee Hyeonji of South Korea during the women +78kg final of Judo at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
Niu Xinran (L) of China competes against Lee Hyeonji of South Korea during the women +78kg final of Judo at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
