HANGZHOU—Kiyomi Watanabe couldn’t summon the form that clinched her a silver four years ago in Jakarta as she and four others crashed out of the judo competition of the 19th Asian Games Monday at the Xiaoshan Linpu Gymnasium.
Watanabe, 27, lost to two-time world championships silver medalist Miku Takaichi of Japan in the women’s -63-kilogram class via ippon in the first 12 seconds of their quarterfinal-round match.
Watanabe was relegated to the repechage but lost to Esmigul Kuyolova of Kazakhstan also via ippon in the first 13 seconds of their encounter.
“Our athletes are in good condition,” Philippine Judo Federation Secretary General Dave Carter said. “But we got unlucky in the draw. Our athletes got paired against the top seeds in Asia. We will work hard and be more prepared next time.”
Also bombing out early were Keisei Nakano, Rena Furukawa, John Ferrer and Ryoko Salinas.
The 26-year-old Nakano lost to Jakarta Asiad silver medalist Behruzi Khojazoda of Tajikistan via ippon in the round of 16 of the men’s -73 kgs class, while Furukawa bowed to Momo Tanaoki of Japan also via ippon in the women’s -57 kgs event.
Ferrer beat Janga Bahadur Saru of Nepal in the round of 32 of the men’s 81 kgs but yielded to Bolor-Ochir Gereltuya of Mongolia in the round of 16.
Salinas defeated Garima Choundhary of India in the round of 16 in women’s 70 kgs but surrendered to Shiho Tanaka of Japan via ippon in the first 45 seconds of their battle.
Salinas lost to Liao Wun Jung of Chinese Taipei in the repechage.
Carl Dave Aseneta and Dylwynn Gimena will still compete Tuesday.