Olympic silver-medallist and current Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore attended the Indo-Japan Sports Exchange event on December 16 at Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Delhi. Along with Colonel Rathore, Olympians Balbir Singh (Hockey), Vijender Singh (Boxing), Akhil Kumar (Boxing), Akram Shah (Judo) attended the Judo event. The event’s motive was to promote Judo in India.
In his speech, Rathore emphasised on the relations between India-Japan and how they are not just limited to commerce and business sectors but sports as well. He made a big announcement in the presence of Japanese Ambassador to India, His Excellency Kenji Hiramatsu. Japan will be contributing to the Lakshmibai National University of Physical Education in Bhopal.
Japan’s Judo Olympians Masashi Nishiyama (London Olympics bronze medalist) and Misato Nakamura (Beijing & Rio De Janeiro Olympics bronze medallist) too graced the event with their presence and also showed a few Judo moves to the young crowd dominated by school children.
While interacting with the crowd, Rathore emphasised on the beauty of the game after a demonstration from Nakamura and Nishiyama. Rathore was fascinated how Nakamura managed to beat a muscular Nishiyama. He said,
We saw that Misato Nakamura, who was smaller in size than Masashi Nishiyama, was easily able to fling him. That is the speciality of judo. In judo even those smaller in size or slightly weaker can defeat opponents weighing more than them. Because in this game a player can use the power of his/her opponent in their own favour.
Here’s the video of Nakamura giving a tough time to Nishiyama on the mat –
The programme had demonstrations of Kendo, Karate and Indian martial arts Kalaripayattu.
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At the #Judo Training Program organized as part of #Japan-India #Sports Exchange Program.
Embassy of Japan in India & @Media_SAI are cooperating in the field of Judo & other sports in the run-up to #Tokyo2020 @Olympics & beyond. pic.twitter.com/0UBdgV5zet
— Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) December 16, 2017
The event marked the beginning of a long-term cooperation in the field of Judo and other sports. The event was co-organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Embassy of Japan.
