Ryutaro Araga claimed Japan's sole kumite medal at the Tokyo Games with a bronze medal finish in the men's over-75-kilogram semifinal bout Saturday at Nippon Budokan, as Ayumi Uekusa, who competed in the over-61-kilogram weight class, was eliminated after ending her pool-stage rounds with two defeats and two wins.
Despite being shutout 2-0 by Saudi Arabia's Tareg Hamedi in the semifinals, Araga was still able to take home the bronze on the strength of his earlier pool-round performance, which he cruised through with three consecutive wins.
Araga said he felt especially motivated by a determination to secure a medal for Japan, the birthplace of karate, in the sport's Olympic debut.
Nicknamed "speed dragon" because of his lightning-fast moves, the 30-year-old is known for his ability to slide under his opponents' defenses and strike up close.
Eyed as one of karate's brightest talents since elementary school, Araga has collected many of the discipline's highest accolades. Since becoming the youngest-ever national kumite champion at age 19 and winning the world title in 2016, Araga has shouldered expectations that he would become kumite's next great ace.
Buckling under the burden of these expectations, Araga went through a severe slump in 2018, when the qualifiers for the Games began.
Having been thoroughly studied by his opponents, Araga found himself unable to use his characteristic speed to his advantage. His sense of rhythm and distance thrown out of balance, he began to rush opponents in frustration, only to be countered and rack up the losses.
But Araga could fall back on the encouragement of supporters that helped him work through the slump. His father, who had always taught him to stand his ground and confront challenges, gave him a supportive push needed to believe in himself.
There was no shying away for Araga in the pool-stage on Saturday, when he defeated three of the world's top athletes in rapid succession, scoring bold and decisive points.
After his Olympic run came to a premature end in the semifinals, Araga choked back tears as he said, "I was aiming for gold."
But along with the bronze around his neck, it was this mettle on the mat that have made Araga a natural leader for Japan's kumite delegation.
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