JUDO

Suzuki beats Anai to win national championship

Saturday 30th April, 06:04 AM JST

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TOKYO —

Athens Olympic gold medalist Keiji Suzuki defeated 100-kilogram world champion Takamasa Anai by ippon to win his first national championship title in four years on Friday.

Suzuki took out Anai with an ‘‘osotogaeshi’’ foot throwing technique 2 minutes, 37 seconds into the final at Nippon Budokan to claim his fourth overall national crown.

‘‘This feels like a dream. I can still be a winner,’’ said Suzuki, who won the open category gold medal at the 2003 world championships and the 100-kg title in the 2005 worlds.

‘‘I am delighted at winning this time. I thought if I stayed patient then chances would come and I gave it my best shot. My goal is to win again on the world stage.’‘

Kazuhiko Takahashi, who stunned both Suzuki and Anai en route to victory last year, was eliminated in the third round of the open weight meet, while 21-year-old Daiki Kamikawa lost his opening bout in the second round.

Suzuki and open-class world champion Kamikawa were both selected to wrestle at over 100-kg at this summer’s world championships in Paris.