
Tong Wen (L) of China celebrates after Women +78kg Gold Medal
Contest between Tong Wen of China and Maki Tsukada of Japan of Beijing 2008
Olympic Games Judo envent at USTB Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 15, 2008.
Tong Wen beat Maki Tsukada and won the gold medal. (Xinhua Photo)
BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's Tong Wen defeated reigning champion
Maki Tsukada in the women's heavyweight judo final on Friday at the Beijing
Olympic Games, making the Chinese judoda to be the first grand slam judo
champion at an age of 25.
Tong ipponed 26-year-old Tsukada with only eight seconds left in the
five-minute showdown when she was still behind the Japanese in score with an
early lost of yuko.
Tong, 25, has won gold medals in the world championships, World Cups and
Super World Cups with only an Olympic gold medal in absence.
The two giants jumped on each other to make an initiative. Although Tong
had received overwhelming supports in the fully seated gymnasium, a slight flaw
which surrendered a yuko to Tsukada made the 5,000-strong spectators quiet for a
while.
Coach Wu Weifeng frequently shouted at Tong, gesturing her to calm down and
use her mind in disadvantaged situation. Tong still seemed likely to fail in her
first Olympic trip even Tsukada was penalized by a koka.
Tong, three-time world champion, tried to shoulder-threw the rival she had
frequently overcome by a desperate fling for several times but gained nothing.
The Chinese ever-victorious Tong succeeded at her last attempt, roaring for
the breathtaking victory coming from behind. Tsukada and her coach fell for
missing an almost-achieved gold medal.
"There will be not a real Olympic champion without defeating Chinese judoka
in this category," said Tsukada before the Games who won gold medal in Athens by
defeating a Cuba judoka.

Tong Wen of China kisses the gold medal after winning the Women
+78kg Gold Medal Contest between Tong Wen of China and Maki Tsukada of Japan of
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Judo envent at USTB Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug.
15, 2008. Tong Wen beat Maki Tsukada and won the gold medal. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Tong has defeated the Japanese judoka five times in various kinds of
international events, giving Tong a strong self-confidence to win the match once
again.
"I have never played such a tough match before," Tong said, "I always lead
her in scores in previous competition, so I have a strong will to win the match
again even when I was behind."
Both Tong and Tsukada had not been scathed, qualifying to the final by
almost all ippon games. Tong outscored Cuba's Idalys Ortiz in the semifinal.
Tong and Tsukada, whose body weights both exceeded 120kg, are the two
heaviest judoka participated in the Olympic Games.
Ortiz, 19, later ipponed Dorjgotov from Mongolia to win a bronze medal. Her
predecessors had won four silver medals in the previous four Olympic Games.
Lucija Polavder form Slovenia gained the other bronze medal by defeating
South Korean Kim Na-young.

Tong Wen (L) of China celebrates after the contest of Women
+78kg Gold Medal Contest between Tong Wen of China and Maki Tsukada of Japan of
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Judo envent at USTB Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug.
15, 2008. Tong Wen beat Maki Tsukada and won the gold medal.(Xinhua Photo)

Tong Wen (C) of China attends the medal ceremony after winning the
Women +78kg Gold Medal Contest between Tong Wen of China and Maki Tsukada of
Japan of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Judo envent at USTB Gymnasium in Beijing,
China, Aug. 15, 2008. Tong Wen beat Maki Tsukada and won the gold medal.
(Xinhua/Li Ga)

Tong Wen (L) of China celebrates after the contest of Women +78kg
Gold Medal Contest between Tong Wen of China and Maki Tsukada of Japan of
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Judo envent at USTB Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug.
15, 2008. Tong Wen beat Maki Tsukada and won the gold medal. (Xinhua Photo)

Tong Wen (L) of China celebrates after Women +78kg Gold Medal
Contest between Tong Wen of China and Maki Tsukada of Japan of Beijing 2008
Olympic Games Judo envent at USTB Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 15, 2008.
Tong Wen beat Maki Tsukada and won the gold medal.(Xinhua Photo)

Tong Wen (C) of China celebrates after Women +78kg Gold Medal
Contest between Tong Wen of China and Maki Tsukada of Japan of Beijing 2008
Olympic Games Judo envent at USTB Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 15, 2008.
Tong Wen beat Maki Tsukada and won the gold medal.(Xinhua
Photo)