Yang Yung-wei places fifth in Nagoya Asian Games judo
On September 30, 2026, at the Nagoya Asian Games, Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei finished fifth in the men’s 60kg event after losing the bronze medal match to China’s Ma Yulin following a grueling 13-minute bout. Seeking to defend his title from the previous Hangzhou Games, Yang fell short of the podium after dropping his semifinal match to Paris Olympic gold medalist Yeldos Smetov.
Chasing a Defending Title in Nagoya
Entering the competition on September 30, 2026, Yang Yung-wei faced a formidable path in his third appearance at the Asian Games. Having captured bronze at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, silver at the Tokyo Olympics, and gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Yang fought his way through the preliminary rounds of the men’s 60kg division. In the semifinals, he encountered Kazakhstan’s Yeldos Smetov, the reigning Paris Olympic champion who had previously defeated Yang in the quarterfinals at the Paris Games. Smetov secured the victory again, relegating Yang to the bronze medal contest.
A Exhausting Bronze Medal Match
The bronze medal match pitted Yang against China’s Ma Yulin in an encounter that tested both athletes’ physical endurance. Opening the match with aggressive groundwork, Yang repeatedly attempted ne-waza techniques, but Ma maintained a strong defensive posture to thwart the attacks. After four regulation minutes yielded no score, the match entered the golden score overtime period, pushing the total combat time close to 13 minutes. Seeking a breakthrough, Yang launched an o-soto-gari attack, but Ma capitalized on the momentum to counter-throw Yang. The defeat left Yang in fifth place, ending his streak of podium finishes at the continental event.
Reflections and Looking Ahead to the World Championships
Reflecting on the outcome, Yang expressed his disappointment with red eyes, stating that the result was not what he hoped for despite giving his best effort. He acknowledged the heavy expectations and competitive pressure surrounding his quest to defend the gold. However, he noted that the experience offered valuable insights into areas needing improvement. Pointing out that he had never faced Ma Yulin before, Yang observed that the opponent defended well and capitalized on a late-match opening. He also emphasized that modern judo rules favor securing scores quickly during regulation time, highlighting a strategic adjustment for future tournaments. Following the conclusion of his Asian Games schedule, Yang prepares to travel to Azerbaijan for the World Judo Championships to recalibrate and pursue further international success.
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