Russian athletes have been cleared to compete under their national flag starting at this week's Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, the International Judo Federation says. Watch this report for more details!


International Judo body lifts ban on Russian flag, Judokas free to compete under the russian flag

Russian President Vladimir Putin's former judo partner Arkady Rotenberg has gained a partial victory in a court battle, which had been continuing for eight years, over a Surrey mansion worth £27 million.&nbsp;

The mansion has been the centre of contention in the divorce the Russian billionaire is seeking from a ballerina.

Billionaire gas pipe tycoon Rotenberg, whose entry into the United Kingdom has been banned under sanctions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine, has been fighting with Natalia Rotenberg in the London courts since 2016.

The matrimonial home at the centre of the dispute includes a 42ft swimming pool, cinema, staff quarters, wine cellar, games and an underground garage to park six limousines.

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A fresh set of financial sanctions was imposed by British ministers in 2020 on 73-year-old Rotenberg, who is believed to be one of the richest people in the world after he was seen to have “benefited from Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea or the destabilisation of eastern Ukraine”.

<h2>Here's what the court said over the property dispute</h2>

Justice Peel, after listening to the case in the High Court, ruled that the 43-year-old former wife of the tycoon had lost all claims on the property after they left the United Kingdom and did not engage with the litigation in the past two years.

Justice Peel said that Rotenberg "is well known as a close associate of President Putin," and added that after the divorce was granted by the court in 2016, Rotenberg left the UK in 2018 along with the children and did not return.

"Since then, she has remarried an Armenian citizen and herself obtained Armenian citizenship. She is permanently resident there and runs a business in the capital. Since July 2022 there has been no engagement by her or by lawyers in this country on her behalf. I am confident this was not due to lack of resources, not least because she received £8.65m from Mr Rotenberg in 2016," the judge said.

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<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-pm-to-hold-talks-with-russian-president-vladimir-putin-738010/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"I am told that she is in dispute with former solicitors in this country. In the course of those proceedings, she has not attended court, has breached numerous orders and has had a 21-day sentence of imprisonment imposed on her for contempt of court, which is yet to be enforced," he added.&nbsp;

"Mrs Rotenberg's application for...a declaration that Mr Rotenberg is the beneficial owner of the property (is) automatically dismissed. She has not engaged either with the court or the other parties since mid-2022, save for a brief email from French lawyers from which nothing ensued," the judge further stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin's former judo partner Arkady Rotenberg has gained a partial victory in a court battle, which had been continuing for eight years, over a Surrey mansion worth £27 million.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's former judo partner Arkady Rotenberg has gained a partial victory in a court battle, which had been continuing for eight years, over a Surrey mansion worth £27 million. The mansion has been the centre of contention in the divorce the Russian billionaire is seeking from a ballerina. Billionaire gas pipe tycoon Rotenberg, whose entry into the United Kingdom has been banned under sanctions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine, has been fighting with Natalia Rotenberg in the London courts since 2016. The matrimonial home at the centre of the dispute includes a 42ft swimming pool, cinema, staff quarters, wine cellar, games and an underground garage to park six limousines. Also Read: Vladimir Putin hints Russia to start making previously banned nuclear-capable missiles A fresh set of financial sanctions was imposed by British ministers in 2020 on 73-year-old Rotenberg, who is believed to be one of the richest people in the world after he was seen to have “benefited from Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea or the destabilisation of eastern Ukraine”. Here's what the court said over the property dispute Justice Peel, after listening to the case in the High Court, ruled that the 43-year-old former wife of the tycoon had lost all claims on the property after they left the United Kingdom and did not engage with the litigation in the past two years. Justice Peel said that Rotenberg "is well known as a close associate of President Putin," and added that after the divorce was granted by the court in 2016, Rotenberg left the UK in 2018 along with the children and did not return. "Since then, she has remarried an Armenian citizen and herself obtained Armenian citizenship. She is permanently resident there and runs a business in the capital. Since July 2022 there has been no engagement by her or by lawyers in this country on her behalf. I am confident this was not due to lack of resources, not least because she received £8.65m from Mr Rotenberg in 2016," the judge said. Watch: Indian PM to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin "I am told that she is in dispute with former solicitors in this country. In the course of those proceedings, she has not attended court, has breached numerous orders and has had a 21-day sentence of imprisonment imposed on her for contempt of court, which is yet to be enforced," he added. "Mrs Rotenberg's application for...a declaration that Mr Rotenberg is the beneficial owner of the property (is) automatically dismissed. She has not engaged either with the court or the other parties since mid-2022, save for a brief email from French lawyers from which nothing ensued," the judge further stated. (With inputs from agencies)

Vladamir Putin’s judo partner defeats his ex-wife not in the ring but...

At sixteen years old, M'mah Kolma Bangoura juggles supporting her family through street vending while pursuing her dream of competing in judo at the summer Olympics for Guinea.

Guinea: Teen girl M'mah Bangoura chases judo dream

Austrian former Olympic judo champion Peter Seisenbacher was released from jail on Friday after serving time for sexually abusing two girls he coached. Seisenbacher was conditionally freed after he served more than two-thirds of his five-year penalty, Styria province court spokeswoman Barbara Schwarz told AFP. His lawyer, Bernhard Lehofer, confirmed the 62-year-old was released on Friday. Austrian law stipulates that a prisoner will be released after two-thirds of the imposed sentence has been served -- unless there are special reasons to fear that the person will commit another crime.

An Austrian court in 2019 sentenced Seisenbacher to five years in jail after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two girls from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. He abused one of the two girls from the age of nine with the abuse lasting several years, according to the verdict. The second girl was 13 when the abuse started. A third woman testified Seisenbacher tried to sexually abuse her at a holiday camp when she was 16.

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Seisenbacher, who was facing a maximum penalty of 10 years, had said that he was innocent of the charges at the start of the trial. In 2020, Austria's top court dismissed his appeal. Prosecutors in Vienna issued an international warrant for his arrest after he failed to show up for a 2016 court hearing in Vienna.

Seisenbacher was located in Ukraine in 2017 after seven months on the run and handed over to Austria in 2019. He won middleweight gold at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984 and again in Seoul four years later.

Austrian former Olympic judo champion Peter Seisenbacher was released from jail on Friday after serving time for sexually abusing two girls he coached. Seisenbacher was conditionally freed after he served more than two-thirds of his five-year penalty, Styria province court spokeswoman Barbara Schwarz told AFP.

Austrian former Olympic judo champion Peter Seisenbacher was released from jail on Friday after serving time for sexually abusing two girls he coached. Seisenbacher was conditionally freed after he served more than two-thirds of his five-year penalty, Styria province court spokeswoman Barbara Schwarz told AFP. His lawyer, Bernhard Lehofer, confirmed the 62-year-old was released on Friday. Austrian law stipulates that a prisoner will be released after two-thirds of the imposed sentence has been served -- unless there are special reasons to fear that the person will commit another crime. An Austrian court in 2019 sentenced Seisenbacher to five years in jail after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two girls from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. He abused one of the two girls from the age of nine with the abuse lasting several years, according to the verdict. The second girl was 13 when the abuse started. A third woman testified Seisenbacher tried to sexually abuse her at a holiday camp when she was 16. ALSO READ | Brooklyn Nets suspend Kyrie Irving after star guard refuses to disavow anti-Semitism Seisenbacher, who was facing a maximum penalty of 10 years, had said that he was innocent of the charges at the start of the trial. In 2020, Austria's top court dismissed his appeal. Prosecutors in Vienna issued an international warrant for his arrest after he failed to show up for a 2016 court hearing in Vienna. Seisenbacher was located in Ukraine in 2017 after seven months on the run and handed over to Austria in 2019. He won middleweight gold at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984 and again in Seoul four years later.

Austrian ex-judo champion Peter Seisenbacher freed after serving time for sex abuse

Linthoi Chanambam created history on Friday as the 16-year-old from Manipur became the first ever judo world champion from India. She defeated Bianca Reis of Brazil in the final of the 57 kg category to clinch a historic gold medal at the World Cadet Judo Championship in Sarajevo, Bosnia.

The youngster dominated her opponents enroute to the final with four wins by clear ippons (ippon – a move in judo that earns 10 points and a straight win). In the summit clash, she faced an opponent with more international experience, but Chanambam kept her calm and came out with the victory.

While the match was extremely close for most parts, Chanambam ended up winning it by scoring waza-ari (the move with the second highest number of points after ippon).

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Hailing from Mayang in Manipur, Chanambam started judo in 2014 as the sport was quite popular in her village. During an interaction with journalists after her victory, she said that there were a number of judo academies near her village and that helped her in understanding the sport.

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First ever world championship medal for India! 🇮🇳🥇 Gold for Linthoi! 
 
“I cannot explain now how I feel but I know I’m very happy with this victory” - Linthoi Chanambam<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JudoCadets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JudoCadets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Judo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Judo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sarajevo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sarajevo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cadets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cadets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JudoKids?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JudoKids</a> <a href="https://t.co/2YOFW7Pf3z">pic.twitter.com/2YOFW7Pf3z</a>
— Judo (@Judo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Judo/status/1563181424127066112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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"I used to play football, boxing just for fun, but I wanted to play judo professionally."

However, the big break for Chanambam came in 2017 when she was spotted by the head coach of Inspire Institute of Sport's (IIS) judo programme — Mamuka Kizilashvili — during one of his scouting visits. She joined the programme in 2017 and has been training under him ever since.

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In 2021, she won the National Championships, and followed it up with a good show in the Asian Cadet Championships and a gold medal in the Junior Judo Championships held in Bangkok, Thailand.

After the historic victory, the 16-year-old is now focused on the road ahead and like her idol Majlinda Kelmendi, Chanambam wants to win the goal medal in judo at the Olympics.

"There's one player, she's from Kosovo. Majlinda Kelmendi. She's the first athlete from Kosovo to win a gold medal at the Olympics (2016). So, I want to be the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Olympics," she said in an interaction with journalists according to ESPN.

Linthoi Chanambam created history on Friday as the 16-year-old from Manipur became the first ever judo world champion from India. She defeated Bianca Reis of Brazil in the final of the 57 kg category to clinch a historic gold medal at the World Cadet Judo Championship in Sarajevo, Bosnia.

Linthoi Chanambam created history on Friday as the 16-year-old from Manipur became the first ever judo world champion from India. She defeated Bianca Reis of Brazil in the final of the 57 kg category to clinch a historic gold medal at the World Cadet Judo Championship in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The youngster dominated her opponents enroute to the final with four wins by clear ippons (ippon – a move in judo that earns 10 points and a straight win). In the summit clash, she faced an opponent with more international experience, but Chanambam kept her calm and came out with the victory. While the match was extremely close for most parts, Chanambam ended up winning it by scoring waza-ari (the move with the second highest number of points after ippon). Also read | Virat Kohli to return! India's predicted playing XI for Asia Cup clash against Pakistan Hailing from Mayang in Manipur, Chanambam started judo in 2014 as the sport was quite popular in her village. During an interaction with journalists after her victory, she said that there were a number of judo academies near her village and that helped her in understanding the sport. First ever world championship medal for India! 🇮🇳🥇 Gold for Linthoi! “I cannot explain now how I feel but I know I’m very happy with this victory” - Linthoi Chanambam#JudoCadets #Judo #Sport #sarajevo #cadets #JudoKids pic.twitter.com/2YOFW7Pf3z — Judo (@Judo) August 26, 2022 × "I used to play football, boxing just for fun, but I wanted to play judo professionally." However, the big break for Chanambam came in 2017 when she was spotted by the head coach of Inspire Institute of Sport's (IIS) judo programme — Mamuka Kizilashvili — during one of his scouting visits. She joined the programme in 2017 and has been training under him ever since. Also read | Neeraj Chopra offers insight into his potentially season-ending injury In 2021, she won the National Championships, and followed it up with a good show in the Asian Cadet Championships and a gold medal in the Junior Judo Championships held in Bangkok, Thailand. After the historic victory, the 16-year-old is now focused on the road ahead and like her idol Majlinda Kelmendi, Chanambam wants to win the goal medal in judo at the Olympics. "There's one player, she's from Kosovo. Majlinda Kelmendi. She's the first athlete from Kosovo to win a gold medal at the Olympics (2016). So, I want to be the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Olympics," she said in an interaction with journalists according to ESPN.

Meet Linthoi Chanambam, first judo world champion from India at the age of 16

Indian judokas L Shushila Devi and Vijay Kumar Yadav signed off with a silver and a bronze medal in women's 48kg and men's 60kg respectively at the Commonwealth Games here on Monday. The 27-year-old Shushila fought hard before losing the final via 'Waza-Ari' in the 4.25-minute final against South Africa's Michaela Whitebooi, while Yadav dished out a dominating show to take down Petros Christodoulides of Cyprus with a 'Ippon' in the bronze medal match.

For Shushila, it was her second silver medal at the showpiece event. She had finished runners-up at the 2014 Glasgow games as well. A sub-inspector with Manipur Police, Shushila had progressed to the final, beating Priscilla Morand of Mauritius. She had beaten Harriet Bonface of Malawi on way to her quarterfinals earlier in the day.

The 26-year-old Yadav, on the other hand, produced a superlative performance as he pounced on the mistake of his opponent and pinned him down for 10 seconds to end the contest in just 58 seconds.

Ippon is a move in which a contestant throws his opponent to the mat with considerable force and speed so that the opponent lands on his back. An ippon is also awarded when a contestant immobilizes his opponent with a grappling hold-down for 20 seconds, or when an opponent gives up.

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Yadav, who has won the Commonwealth Championships in 2018 and 2019, had lost to Joshua Katz of Australia in the quarterfinal, but he produced a superb performance in 60kg repechage to advance to the bronze medal match with a win by 'Waza Ari' over Dylon Munro of Scotland.

A 'waza-ari' is awarded after a player throws his opponent with control and accuracy, but not to the extent of an ippon. 
Jasleen Singh Saini will also fight for a bronze medal after losing the men's 66kg semifinal to Scotland's Finlay Allan.

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Saini, who sailed into the semifinals earlier in the day, lost after the Scot performed an 'Ippon' in a match that lasted a little less than two and half minutes. The 24-year-old Saini, however, has a chance to earn a podium finish as he will compete in the bronze medal play-off against Australian Nathan Katz later tonight.

Suchika Tariyal has already reached the bronze medal round after defeating Donne Breytenbach of South Africa in the women's 57kg repechage. India had won two silver and two bronze at the Glasgow 2014, their best ever show in judo.

Indian judokas L Shushila Devi and Vijay Kumar Yadav signed off with a silver and a bronze medal in women's 48kg and men's 60kg respectively at the Commonwealth Games here on Monday.

Indian judokas L Shushila Devi and Vijay Kumar Yadav signed off with a silver and a bronze medal in women's 48kg and men's 60kg respectively at the Commonwealth Games here on Monday. The 27-year-old Shushila fought hard before losing the final via 'Waza-Ari' in the 4.25-minute final against South Africa's Michaela Whitebooi, while Yadav dished out a dominating show to take down Petros Christodoulides of Cyprus with a 'Ippon' in the bronze medal match. For Shushila, it was her second silver medal at the showpiece event. She had finished runners-up at the 2014 Glasgow games as well. A sub-inspector with Manipur Police, Shushila had progressed to the final, beating Priscilla Morand of Mauritius. She had beaten Harriet Bonface of Malawi on way to her quarterfinals earlier in the day. The 26-year-old Yadav, on the other hand, produced a superlative performance as he pounced on the mistake of his opponent and pinned him down for 10 seconds to end the contest in just 58 seconds. Ippon is a move in which a contestant throws his opponent to the mat with considerable force and speed so that the opponent lands on his back. An ippon is also awarded when a contestant immobilizes his opponent with a grappling hold-down for 20 seconds, or when an opponent gives up. Also Read: India secure first-ever medal in lawn bowls in Commonwealth Games history Yadav, who has won the Commonwealth Championships in 2018 and 2019, had lost to Joshua Katz of Australia in the quarterfinal, but he produced a superb performance in 60kg repechage to advance to the bronze medal match with a win by 'Waza Ari' over Dylon Munro of Scotland. A 'waza-ari' is awarded after a player throws his opponent with control and accuracy, but not to the extent of an ippon. Jasleen Singh Saini will also fight for a bronze medal after losing the men's 66kg semifinal to Scotland's Finlay Allan. Also Read: Indian boxer Amit Panghal makes winning start, cruises to quarters at Commonwealth Games 2022 Saini, who sailed into the semifinals earlier in the day, lost after the Scot performed an 'Ippon' in a match that lasted a little less than two and half minutes. The 24-year-old Saini, however, has a chance to earn a podium finish as he will compete in the bronze medal play-off against Australian Nathan Katz later tonight. Suchika Tariyal has already reached the bronze medal round after defeating Donne Breytenbach of South Africa in the women's 57kg repechage. India had won two silver and two bronze at the Glasgow 2014, their best ever show in judo.

CWG 2022: Indian judoka Shushila Devi wins silver in women' 48kg, Vijay Kumar Yadav gets bronze

Japan is the home of judo but a brutal win-at-all-costs mentality, corporal punishment and pressure to lose weight are driving large numbers of children to quit, raising fears for the sport's future in its traditional powerhouse.

Underlining the scale of the problem, the All Japan Judo Federation cancelled a prestigious nationwide tournament for children as young as 10, warning they were being pushed too hard.

A pressure group dedicated to those injured or killed while practising the martial art says that 121 judo-related deaths were reported in Japanese schools between 1983 and 2016.

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Japan regularly dominates the Olympics judo medal table but federation president Yasuhiro Yamashita told AFP that the values of the sport are being lost as parents and coaches chase short-term glory.

"Judo is a sport that emphasises humanity," said Yamashita, who is also the president of the Japanese Olympic Committee and won gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

"If you see no worth in anything but winning, and the result is all that matters, that gets distorted."

The number of people taking part in judo in Japan has plummeted by almost half since 2004 to about 120,000, according to the federation's figures.

Children account for the steepest decline in numbers.

Reports have emerged of primary school children being forced to lose weight -- sometimes up to six kilogrammes (13 pounds) -- so they can compete in a lighter division.

Young children are taught the same dangerous moves as Olympic athletes and intense training regimes can leave them injured or burnt out.

Parents and coaches have been known to berate referees during matches and corporal punishment still exists, despite reforms in a sport that has been plagued by abuse and bullying scandals over the years.

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The All Japan Judo Federation decided to take action in March by cancelling a national tournament for elite children aged between 10 and 12, planning to replace it with events such as lectures and practice sessions.

The backlash was fierce with angry parents and coaches accusing the federation of dashing children's dreams and jeopardising Japan's status as the bastion of judo.

Violence, not words&nbsp;

Junior high school student Rion Fukuo, 13, a regional champion last year, told AFP at her judo club in the central Shizuoka region that she "feels sorry" for this year's primary school children who have no tournament to aim for.

Kosuke Moroi, whose 12-year-old daughter attends the same club, said he was "disappointed" when he first heard the news but concluded it was "a good decision" after learning more about the reasons.

Yamashita said scrapping the competition had put a spotlight on "a problem that involves Japanese society".

"It's been two-and-a-half months since we decided to cancel the competition and people are still debating it on TV and in newspapers," he said, adding that most opinions "have been in favour".

Judo and other martial arts were used for military training in Japan before World War II and servicemen would visit schools to give lessons.

Martial arts were banned during the post-war US occupation but they later were recognised as sports, with judo making its Olympic debut at the 1964 Tokyo Games.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bank-of-japan-keeps-easing-despite-global-rate-hikes-489112">Also read | Bank of Japan keeps monetary easing despite global rate hikes</a>

Noriko Mizoguchi, a Japanese judoka who won silver at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, said a belief that corporal punishment makes children stronger was still common in Japan.

"One thing that has stuck to coaching in Japanese sports is that it doesn't use words, it uses violence," she said.

"There's a co-dependence, like with domestic violence, as if being hit is like being shown affection."

Problem parents

Coaches who use corporal punishment can be stripped of their licences but parents are harder to control.

Hisako Kurata, a representative of the Japan Judo Accident Victims Association, said most parents "don't think about the danger and just want their child to win".

"Parents think that if their child wins a title, they'll be happy, they think they're doing it for their child," said Kurata, whose 15-year-old son died in 2011 as a result of a head injury sustained at his high-school judo club.

"The parents end up having the same win-at-all-costs mentality as the judo club and they contribute to it."

Mizoguchi, who has coached in France, said judo was "not fun" for Japanese children and that the "macho culture" surrounding the sport has had its day.

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"You have to treat each kid with care and have a long-term vision for the future, otherwise Japanese judo has reached its limit," she said.

"Old-school coaches are scared that if we do away with the kids' competitions, Japanese judo will lose its strength.

"I think it will actually become stronger."

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Japan is the home of judo but a brutal win-at-all-costs mentality, corporal punishment and pressure to lose weight are driving large numbers of children to quit, raising fears for the sport's future in its traditional powerhouse.

Japan is the home of judo but a brutal win-at-all-costs mentality, corporal punishment and pressure to lose weight are driving large numbers of children to quit, raising fears for the sport's future in its traditional powerhouse. Underlining the scale of the problem, the All Japan Judo Federation cancelled a prestigious nationwide tournament for children as young as 10, warning they were being pushed too hard. A pressure group dedicated to those injured or killed while practising the martial art says that 121 judo-related deaths were reported in Japanese schools between 1983 and 2016. Also read | As Covid cases fall, Japanese school kids allowed to talk during lunch Japan regularly dominates the Olympics judo medal table but federation president Yasuhiro Yamashita told AFP that the values of the sport are being lost as parents and coaches chase short-term glory. "Judo is a sport that emphasises humanity," said Yamashita, who is also the president of the Japanese Olympic Committee and won gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. "If you see no worth in anything but winning, and the result is all that matters, that gets distorted." The number of people taking part in judo in Japan has plummeted by almost half since 2004 to about 120,000, according to the federation's figures. Children account for the steepest decline in numbers. Reports have emerged of primary school children being forced to lose weight -- sometimes up to six kilogrammes (13 pounds) -- so they can compete in a lighter division. Young children are taught the same dangerous moves as Olympic athletes and intense training regimes can leave them injured or burnt out. Parents and coaches have been known to berate referees during matches and corporal punishment still exists, despite reforms in a sport that has been plagued by abuse and bullying scandals over the years. Watch | Japan announces one-year long jail term for online insults The All Japan Judo Federation decided to take action in March by cancelling a national tournament for elite children aged between 10 and 12, planning to replace it with events such as lectures and practice sessions. The backlash was fierce with angry parents and coaches accusing the federation of dashing children's dreams and jeopardising Japan's status as the bastion of judo. Violence, not words Junior high school student Rion Fukuo, 13, a regional champion last year, told AFP at her judo club in the central Shizuoka region that she "feels sorry" for this year's primary school children who have no tournament to aim for. Kosuke Moroi, whose 12-year-old daughter attends the same club, said he was "disappointed" when he first heard the news but concluded it was "a good decision" after learning more about the reasons. Yamashita said scrapping the competition had put a spotlight on "a problem that involves Japanese society". "It's been two-and-a-half months since we decided to cancel the competition and people are still debating it on TV and in newspapers," he said, adding that most opinions "have been in favour". Judo and other martial arts were used for military training in Japan before World War II and servicemen would visit schools to give lessons. Martial arts were banned during the post-war US occupation but they later were recognised as sports, with judo making its Olympic debut at the 1964 Tokyo Games. Also read | Bank of Japan keeps monetary easing despite global rate hikes Noriko Mizoguchi, a Japanese judoka who won silver at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, said a belief that corporal punishment makes children stronger was still common in Japan. "One thing that has stuck to coaching in Japanese sports is that it doesn't use words, it uses violence," she said. "There's a co-dependence, like with domestic violence, as if being hit is like being shown affection." Problem parents Coaches who use corporal punishment can be stripped of their licences but parents are harder to control. Hisako Kurata, a representative of the Japan Judo Accident Victims Association, said most parents "don't think about the danger and just want their child to win". "Parents think that if their child wins a title, they'll be happy, they think they're doing it for their child," said Kurata, whose 15-year-old son died in 2011 as a result of a head injury sustained at his high-school judo club. "The parents end up having the same win-at-all-costs mentality as the judo club and they contribute to it." Mizoguchi, who has coached in France, said judo was "not fun" for Japanese children and that the "macho culture" surrounding the sport has had its day. Also read | Japanese airline ditches letter 'Z' logo, which may seem pro-Russia "You have to treat each kid with care and have a long-term vision for the future, otherwise Japanese judo has reached its limit," she said. "Old-school coaches are scared that if we do away with the kids' competitions, Japanese judo will lose its strength. "I think it will actually become stronger." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japan judo hits crisis point as bullied, burnt-out children quit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been suspended as honorary president and ambassador of the International Judo Federation on Sunday.

The sports governing body removed Putin in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

"In light of the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine, the International Judo Federation announces the suspension of Vladimir Putin's status as Honorary President and Ambassador of the International Judo Federation," the International Judo Federation in a statement said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/emotional-iga-swiatek-voices-support-for-ukraine-after-clinching-qatar-open-title-457063">Emotional Iga Swiatek voices support for Ukraine after clinching Qatar Open title</a>

The Russian President ordered special military operations on February 24 "to protect" the people in the Donbas region.

Earlier, Putin had recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities.

Russia has been facing immense criticism, especially from the western countries over the recent actions. A number of countries including the US, UK and Germany have applied fresh rounds of sanctions on Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been suspended as honorary president and ambassador of the International Judo Federation on Sunday. The sports governing body removed Putin in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been suspended as honorary president and ambassador of the International Judo Federation on Sunday. The sports governing body removed Putin in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. "In light of the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine, the International Judo Federation announces the suspension of Vladimir Putin's status as Honorary President and Ambassador of the International Judo Federation," the International Judo Federation in a statement said. ALSO READ: Emotional Iga Swiatek voices support for Ukraine after clinching Qatar Open title The Russian President ordered special military operations on February 24 "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. Earlier, Putin had recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Russia has been facing immense criticism, especially from the western countries over the recent actions. A number of countries including the US, UK and Germany have applied fresh rounds of sanctions on Russia.

International Judo Federation suspends Vladimir Putin as its honorary president amid Russia-Ukraine war

Bhutan inaugurated its first judo school, months after making an Olympic debut in the same sport. The project, funded by Japan, could make martial art more popular in Bhutan. Maiam Wardak gets you a report.

South Asia Diary | Bhutan opens first Judo dojo

Japanese judokas achieved a record gold medal rush for the host country at the Tokyo Games, but it was France's Teddy Riner who stole the show at the home of judo in the end. 
 
Of the 14 weight categories for the men and women, Japan won nine golds, a silver and a bronze in the individual contests in Tokyo - a record haul since judo became an Olympic event for men in 1964 and for women in 1992. 
 
However, the feeling of exaltation among Japanese judokas quickly faded after they suffered a shock loss&nbsp;against Riner-led France 1-4 in the mixed team event on the final day of the judo contest.

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"This is the reality in the world. The world of judo is evolving fast," Kosei Inoue, the head coach of the Japanese judo national team, told reporters. 
 
"I'm really frustrated as we ended up in the second place and couldn't live up to expectations, although I'm the happiest man on earth to have worked with such wonderful athletes." 
 
Japanese judokas have a big job to do if they want to outperform their Tokyo Games results at the Paris 2024, he added. 
 
Confronting Japan will likely be French judokas led by Riner, who plans to return to the mat for his fourth Games in his home country.

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The 32-year-old French heavyweight legend had to settle for the bronze medal after failing to win a third consecutive Olympic gold in the men's +100kg individual contest against Tamerlan Bashaev of the Russian Olympic Committee. 
 
A win at Tokyo's Budokan, the arena built to host judo's debut at the 1964 Games, would have matched the record held by Japanese great judoka Tadahiro Nomura. 
 
Still, the French win in the team event helped bring Riner a tally of three golds and two bronze medals from his Olympics appearances. Riner said he was happy to win both bronze for the individual and gold for the team event. 
 
"It's my third Olympic gold medal, my fifth medal at an Olympics. I think this is very, very... important to win here in the country of judo during the Olympic Games in Tokyo at the Budokan. It's just amazing," Riner told reporters. 
 
"This is a dream, we win the final (against the) Japanese team. Wow."

Japanese judokas achieved a record gold medal rush for the host country at the Tokyo Games, but it was France's Teddy Riner who stole the show at the home of judo in the end.

Japanese judokas achieved a record gold medal rush for the host country at the Tokyo Games, but it was France's Teddy Riner who stole the show at the home of judo in the end. Of the 14 weight categories for the men and women, Japan won nine golds, a silver and a bronze in the individual contests in Tokyo - a record haul since judo became an Olympic event for men in 1964 and for women in 1992. However, the feeling of exaltation among Japanese judokas quickly faded after they suffered a shock loss against Riner-led France 1-4 in the mixed team event on the final day of the judo contest. IN PICS | India among countries with highest cash-rewards for Olympic medalists - Check out the complete list "This is the reality in the world. The world of judo is evolving fast," Kosei Inoue, the head coach of the Japanese judo national team, told reporters. "I'm really frustrated as we ended up in the second place and couldn't live up to expectations, although I'm the happiest man on earth to have worked with such wonderful athletes." Japanese judokas have a big job to do if they want to outperform their Tokyo Games results at the Paris 2024, he added. Confronting Japan will likely be French judokas led by Riner, who plans to return to the mat for his fourth Games in his home country. IN PICS | From Ravi Kumar to PV Sindhu: Indian Athletes get mind-boggling cash rewards after winning medals in Tokyo Olympics The 32-year-old French heavyweight legend had to settle for the bronze medal after failing to win a third consecutive Olympic gold in the men's +100kg individual contest against Tamerlan Bashaev of the Russian Olympic Committee. A win at Tokyo's Budokan, the arena built to host judo's debut at the 1964 Games, would have matched the record held by Japanese great judoka Tadahiro Nomura. Still, the French win in the team event helped bring Riner a tally of three golds and two bronze medals from his Olympics appearances. Riner said he was happy to win both bronze for the individual and gold for the team event. "It's my third Olympic gold medal, my fifth medal at an Olympics. I think this is very, very... important to win here in the country of judo during the Olympic Games in Tokyo at the Budokan. It's just amazing," Riner told reporters. "This is a dream, we win the final (against the) Japanese team. Wow."

Tokyo Olympics judo: France's Teddy Riner shines even as Japan judokas win record gold

Naohisa Takato delivered the first gold medal of the Tokyo Games for a host nation desperate for Olympic glory by winning the men's 60 kg judo, a sport fittingly born in Japan 140 years ago.

The win against Taiwan's Yang Yung-wei left Takato openly weeping on the mat and stood in contrast to the lack of fans in an empty arena at the Nippon Budokan, a mecca of Japanese martial arts and concert venues, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"This is heavy. It makes me feel like dreaming," Takato, who was later all smiles, told reporters when asked about the gold medal that was put around his neck.

The triple world champion judoka, who had disappointed the nation with a bronze medal at the 2016 Games, had a nail-biting ride to the top of the podium with three victories in the finals coming in the sudden death Golden Score period.

He had a close shave in his quarter-final in the 60kg class, winning during Golden Score overtime on a foul by his Georgian opponent Lukhumi Chkhvimiani.

In the elimination round of 16, Takato delivered an ippon against Belgian Jorre Verstaeten.

"It was frustrating in Rio," Takato said, recalling the previous Games where he ended up with bronze. "It was a long road to get here."

In between matches at the eight-sided Nippon Budokan, which was built for the Olympics Japan hosted in 1964, sanitation workers poured disinfectant spray over yellow tatami mats to minimise the risk of coronavirus infection.

Blaring pop, rock and dance music was used to generate an atmosphere before the bouts.

JAPAN'S STRENGTH

Takato's victory underscored Japan's strength at a sport that originated in the country. Bronze medals went to Yeldos Smetov of Kazakhstan and Luka Mkheidze of France.

Japanese female judoka Funa Tonaki reached the final in her 48kg class but lost to Kosovo's Distria Krasniqi, just one bout away from achieving double gold on the same day with Takato.

Tonaki, a one-time world champion making her Olympic debut, won a semi-final with an ippon - judo's equivalent of a knockout - by pinning Ukraine's Daria Bilodid in Golden Score overtime.

It was a bittersweet day for the host nation, which has endured a lead up to the Games like no other.

The career of "King" Kohei Uchimura, twice Olympics all-around champion and holder of seven Olympic medals, came to an abrupt end when he failed to qualify in the gymnastics arena.

Japan also suffered an opening swimming session blow on Saturday when top gold medal hope Daiya Seto failed to make the men's 400 metres medley final.

Nevertheless, many spectators watching the Games at home under lockdown took solace in Takato's moment of joy.

"The first gold medal for Japan! It was a marvellous feat built on the bitter experience at Rio de Janeiro five years ago. Congratulations and thank you," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike tweeted.

Naohisa Takato delivered the first gold medal of the Tokyo Games for a host nation desperate for Olympic glory by winning the men's 60 kg judo, a sport fittingly born in Japan 140 years ago.

Naohisa Takato delivered the first gold medal of the Tokyo Games for a host nation desperate for Olympic glory by winning the men's 60 kg judo, a sport fittingly born in Japan 140 years ago. The win against Taiwan's Yang Yung-wei left Takato openly weeping on the mat and stood in contrast to the lack of fans in an empty arena at the Nippon Budokan, a mecca of Japanese martial arts and concert venues, amid the coronavirus pandemic. "This is heavy. It makes me feel like dreaming," Takato, who was later all smiles, told reporters when asked about the gold medal that was put around his neck. The triple world champion judoka, who had disappointed the nation with a bronze medal at the 2016 Games, had a nail-biting ride to the top of the podium with three victories in the finals coming in the sudden death Golden Score period. He had a close shave in his quarter-final in the 60kg class, winning during Golden Score overtime on a foul by his Georgian opponent Lukhumi Chkhvimiani. In the elimination round of 16, Takato delivered an ippon against Belgian Jorre Verstaeten. "It was frustrating in Rio," Takato said, recalling the previous Games where he ended up with bronze. "It was a long road to get here." In between matches at the eight-sided Nippon Budokan, which was built for the Olympics Japan hosted in 1964, sanitation workers poured disinfectant spray over yellow tatami mats to minimise the risk of coronavirus infection. Blaring pop, rock and dance music was used to generate an atmosphere before the bouts. JAPAN'S STRENGTH Takato's victory underscored Japan's strength at a sport that originated in the country. Bronze medals went to Yeldos Smetov of Kazakhstan and Luka Mkheidze of France. Japanese female judoka Funa Tonaki reached the final in her 48kg class but lost to Kosovo's Distria Krasniqi, just one bout away from achieving double gold on the same day with Takato. Tonaki, a one-time world champion making her Olympic debut, won a semi-final with an ippon - judo's equivalent of a knockout - by pinning Ukraine's Daria Bilodid in Golden Score overtime. It was a bittersweet day for the host nation, which has endured a lead up to the Games like no other. The career of "King" Kohei Uchimura, twice Olympics all-around champion and holder of seven Olympic medals, came to an abrupt end when he failed to qualify in the gymnastics arena. Japan also suffered an opening swimming session blow on Saturday when top gold medal hope Daiya Seto failed to make the men's 400 metres medley final. Nevertheless, many spectators watching the Games at home under lockdown took solace in Takato's moment of joy. "The first gold medal for Japan! It was a marvellous feat built on the bitter experience at Rio de Janeiro five years ago. Congratulations and thank you," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike tweeted.

Olympics: Naohisa Takato wins Japan's first gold in men's 60 kg judo

A seven-year-old boy who was slammed into the floor 27&nbsp;times during judo practice has died in Taiwan. &nbsp;

He suffered severe brain haemorrhaging after a judo class back in April. This child, who was not identified, has been on life support for almost 70 days.

He was admitted to the Fengyuan Hospital, and doctors informed his family on Tuesday that the child’s blood pressure and heart rate levels were dropping. After talking to the doctors, in a bid to ease his suffering, the family agreed to withdraw life support.

Reportedly, the cause behind the brain damage and the resulting coma was a very violent class of Judo, where the little boy was slammed into the floor almost 27 times, first by a classmate and then by the coach.

According to a local news site Taipei Times, the boy’s coach, a man in his 60’s was charged with physical assault resulting in serious injury along.

Identified by his surname Ho, the coach was also charged with using a minor to commit a crime. Earlier this month, he was released on a bail of NT$100,000 ($3,583). &nbsp;

Now, upon the child’s death, prosecutors will push to change the charge to "injury causing death", according to news site Taiwan News.

If found guilty he can be liable to a jail sentence of a minimum of seven years in jail, which can go up to life imprisonment.

The most surprising detail about this is that the child was accompanied by his maternal uncle, who was not only present there but also made a video of the class to show the child’s mother that judo might be unsuitable for him.

In this video dated 21 April, the child can be heard screaming from pain, as his classmates repeatedly throw him down. Instead of assisting the child, the coach who later was found to be unlicensed, orders the child to stand up and tells older boys to continue, after this, he can be seen proceeding to himself pick up the seven-year-old and throw him to the ground. &nbsp;

Eventually, the child passed out. According to his family, this makes the coach accuse the little boy of feigning unconsciousness.

Many have questioned why the uncle instead of making a video didn’t stop the coach.

According to experts in Taiwan, this can be because of a long-seated notion of respect and reverence that Taiwanese have for teachers, to them this sometimes also means accepting their authority regardless of the circumstances.

Talking to reporters the boy's mother said that his uncle felt "terrible for what happened".

Recalling the day she said earlier, "I still remember that morning when I took him to school,".

"He turned around and said, 'Mama goodbye'. By night, he had become like this."

While some on the Taiwanese social media are calling for harsher action against the coach, others can be seen saying, "there is no pain now, little brother".

(With inputs from agencies)

A seven-year-old boy who was slammed into the floor 27 times during judo practice has died in Taiwan. He suffered severe brain haemorrhaging after a judo class back in April.

A seven-year-old boy who was slammed into the floor 27 times during judo practice has died in Taiwan. He suffered severe brain haemorrhaging after a judo class back in April. This child, who was not identified, has been on life support for almost 70 days. He was admitted to the Fengyuan Hospital, and doctors informed his family on Tuesday that the child’s blood pressure and heart rate levels were dropping. After talking to the doctors, in a bid to ease his suffering, the family agreed to withdraw life support. Reportedly, the cause behind the brain damage and the resulting coma was a very violent class of Judo, where the little boy was slammed into the floor almost 27 times, first by a classmate and then by the coach. According to a local news site Taipei Times, the boy’s coach, a man in his 60’s was charged with physical assault resulting in serious injury along. Identified by his surname Ho, the coach was also charged with using a minor to commit a crime. Earlier this month, he was released on a bail of NT$100,000 ($3,583). Now, upon the child’s death, prosecutors will push to change the charge to "injury causing death", according to news site Taiwan News. If found guilty he can be liable to a jail sentence of a minimum of seven years in jail, which can go up to life imprisonment. The most surprising detail about this is that the child was accompanied by his maternal uncle, who was not only present there but also made a video of the class to show the child’s mother that judo might be unsuitable for him. In this video dated 21 April, the child can be heard screaming from pain, as his classmates repeatedly throw him down. Instead of assisting the child, the coach who later was found to be unlicensed, orders the child to stand up and tells older boys to continue, after this, he can be seen proceeding to himself pick up the seven-year-old and throw him to the ground. Eventually, the child passed out. According to his family, this makes the coach accuse the little boy of feigning unconsciousness. Many have questioned why the uncle instead of making a video didn’t stop the coach. According to experts in Taiwan, this can be because of a long-seated notion of respect and reverence that Taiwanese have for teachers, to them this sometimes also means accepting their authority regardless of the circumstances. Talking to reporters the boy's mother said that his uncle felt "terrible for what happened". Recalling the day she said earlier, "I still remember that morning when I took him to school,". "He turned around and said, 'Mama goodbye'. By night, he had become like this." While some on the Taiwanese social media are calling for harsher action against the coach, others can be seen saying, "there is no pain now, little brother". (With inputs from agencies)

7-year-old dies after getting thrown 27 times during Judo class in Taiwan

After losing a judo fight, a seven-year-old boy is now fighting for his life after he was slammed on the mat 27 times during a&nbsp;practice session.

WeiWei — child’s nickname — is a seven-year-old from Taiwan who is a fan of Super Mario and loves to spend his time playing different sports.

With his passion for sports, he convinced his family in April to let him take judo lessons. However, after two weeks of practice, he was thrown to the floor 27 times by an elder student. While Wei Wei made it clear that he was in pain, his coach kept ordering him to stand up and asked the elder boy to keep slamming the kid.

In a disturbing video, which has come out as a piece of evidence, Wei Wei can be heard screaming “my leg”, “my head” and “I don’t want it”, but the coach has also been caught on camera encouraging the elder student, instead of stopping the fight.

Not just this, when Wei Wei became too weak to get up, he was thrown on the floor several times by the coach himself, who is much bigger and stronger than the seven-year-old. The deadly training wasn’t stopped even when the kid vomited.

Soon enough WeiWei passed out and was taken to a hospital, where doctors announced that he has suffered severe brain hemorrhaging and has been in a coma since then on life support.

This has raised serious concerns about an existing debate of whether children are being abused in the name of culture.

The coach, in his late 60s, has denied any wrongdoing but has been placed in incommunicado detention after the parents held a press conference to raise the issue.

Surprisingly, WeiWei’s uncle was also present at the venue, and several other adults, who filmed the video to prove to WeiWei’s mother that judo might not be the best fit for him. However, nobody stopped the coach.

His mother said the kid’s uncle has felt terrible for what happened. “They may have been thinking since the coach requires it, I shouldn't oppose the coach's requirement,” she said. “We've seen many examples of this reaction and mindset; even in serious cases.”

WeiWei’s mother has once again urged people to talk about corporal punishment and child abuse in the name of culture. “Taiwanese people still don't put enough importance on this issue and even stay silent,” she said.

"We need to educate adults to really respect and protect children," Feng said. "This is the government's responsibility. The government and society need to re-evaluate themselves."

&nbsp;

After losing a judo fight, a seven-year-old boy is now fighting for his life after he was slammed on the mat 27 times during a practice session. WeiWei — child’s nickname — is a seven-year-old from Taiwan who is a fan of Super Mario and loves to spend his time playing different sports.

After losing a judo fight, a seven-year-old boy is now fighting for his life after he was slammed on the mat 27 times during a practice session. WeiWei — child’s nickname — is a seven-year-old from Taiwan who is a fan of Super Mario and loves to spend his time playing different sports. With his passion for sports, he convinced his family in April to let him take judo lessons. However, after two weeks of practice, he was thrown to the floor 27 times by an elder student. While Wei Wei made it clear that he was in pain, his coach kept ordering him to stand up and asked the elder boy to keep slamming the kid. In a disturbing video, which has come out as a piece of evidence, Wei Wei can be heard screaming “my leg”, “my head” and “I don’t want it”, but the coach has also been caught on camera encouraging the elder student, instead of stopping the fight. Not just this, when Wei Wei became too weak to get up, he was thrown on the floor several times by the coach himself, who is much bigger and stronger than the seven-year-old. The deadly training wasn’t stopped even when the kid vomited. Soon enough WeiWei passed out and was taken to a hospital, where doctors announced that he has suffered severe brain hemorrhaging and has been in a coma since then on life support. This has raised serious concerns about an existing debate of whether children are being abused in the name of culture. The coach, in his late 60s, has denied any wrongdoing but has been placed in incommunicado detention after the parents held a press conference to raise the issue. Surprisingly, WeiWei’s uncle was also present at the venue, and several other adults, who filmed the video to prove to WeiWei’s mother that judo might not be the best fit for him. However, nobody stopped the coach. His mother said the kid’s uncle has felt terrible for what happened. “They may have been thinking since the coach requires it, I shouldn't oppose the coach's requirement,” she said. “We've seen many examples of this reaction and mindset; even in serious cases.” WeiWei’s mother has once again urged people to talk about corporal punishment and child abuse in the name of culture. “Taiwanese people still don't put enough importance on this issue and even stay silent,” she said. "We need to educate adults to really respect and protect children," Feng said. "This is the government's responsibility. The government and society need to re-evaluate themselves."

'My head!': 7-year-old in coma after coach, elder boy slam him 27 times in 'judo practice'

Judo emerged in Japan as a modern martial art form which has since then evolved into an Olympic sport. Watch this segment to know how Judo uniforms are made.

How are Judo uniforms made? Minimum effort for maximum efficiency

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