Nagayama had shown from the first round that he was in great shape, performing the perfect move against Angelo Pantano (ITA) in the first round, as one of the ippon throws of the day. With a right handed guard, the Japanese athlete changed direction to dive left under his opponent's centre of gravity with a thunderous seoi-nage that literally orbited Pantano. Ippon!
With Nagayama through in the semi-finals, all that remained was to know the name of his opponent for a place in the final. Won Jin Kim (KOR) couldn't do anything more and let the gold medal slip away.
The Master title was finally a 100% Asian story, since it was Ariunbold Enkhaivan (MGL) who joined Nagayama in the final. It didn't take long for Nagayama to score a first waza-ari with a te-waza action. Making easy work of it, Nagayama was just waiting for the right moment to score a second waza-ari with a left seoi-nage. Clear, neat, precise; the gold medal was for Nagayama.
Let's rewind the film a little since at -60kg another Japanese judoka attracted all eyes at the start of the competition. Four-time world champion and reigning Olympic champion, Naohisa Takato (JPN), although in a distant 16th place in the world, could have reasonably aimed for the final, if not the gold but he was eliminated by Won Jin Kim in the quarter-finals, having to settle for a possible bronze medal against Salih Yildiz (TUR).
The first waza-ari came from Takato, with a well timed ashi-waza technique, to which a perfect drive with the hands was added. With less than ten second to go, Takato didn't release the pressure, to pin down his opponent for a second waza-ari and a bronze medal. It was definitely not the medal he came for but once again Takato is on the podium of an international event.
Balabay Aghayev (AZE) and Won Jin Kim (KOR) met in the second match for a bronze medal. The beginning of the match was in favour of Kim, who clearly had the initiative and so Aghayev received a first shido for passivity. As Kim continued to put pressure on, he created an opening with a brilliant sutemi-waza but for no score unfortunately.
However, Aghayev received his second penalty. Not on the pace, the Azeri judoka had to find solutions to at least not be penalised a third time, which eventually came anyway with just eight seconds left on the clock left only. The bronze medal was for Won Jin Kim.
Final (-60 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-60 kg)
