Double delight for Japanese at world judo championships

Double delight for Japanese at world judo championships

CHELYABINSK (RUSSIA) - Japanese pair Riki Nakaya and Nae Udaka continued their country's dominance of the judo World Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia, by taking gold medals on Wednesday.

Japan's Riki Nakaya (top) competes with Ukraine's Volodymyr Soroka in the Men's 73kg category of the IJF World Judo Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 28, 2013

London Olympics silver-medallist Nakaya won the men's under-73kg division by beating North Korea's shock finalist Hong Kuk Hyon.

It was the 25-year-old's second world title having also triumphed in Paris in 2011.

Udaka claimed her first world title with a golden score victory against now four-time world runner-up Telma Monteiro of Portugal in the women's under-57kg category.

In a tight final there was almost nothing to separate the pair and it was decided on a penalty given to the four-time European champion.

Monteiro also took silver in 2007, 2009 and 2010 while she was a world bronze medallist in 2005 but has never climbed the top step of a world championship podium.

France's 2013 European champion Automne Pavia and Sanne Verhagen of the Netherlands took the bronze medals.

Russian-born Victor Scvortov made history for the United Arab Emirates -- winning their first ever medal -- by taking under-73kg bronze alongside Russian Musa Mogushkov.

Japan, who usually dominate in the lightweight divisions, have won four of the six categories so far.

Ami Kondo won her first under-48kg title on Monday while Masashi Ebinuma claimed his third straight world under-66kg crown on Tuesday.

The men's under-81kg and women's under-63kg categories will take place Thursday.

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