Abe Siblings' Olympic Dreams Dashed in Paris Judo Competition

PARIS (AP) — The hopes of Uta and Hifumi Abe, the celebrated judo siblings from Japan, to secure gold medals on the same day at the Paris Olympics were abruptly ended on Sunday. Uta Abe suffered a surprising defeat in the round of 16 against Uzbekistan's Diyora Keldiyorova, who executed a stunning tani otoshi throw, securing an ippon just over three minutes into the match. This loss marks a significant setback for the siblings, who previously triumphed at the Tokyo Olympics and have dominated the judo scene with multiple world championships. Uta Abe's emotional response to her defeat was palpable, as she was visibly distraught and chose not to address the media following her match. Her sobs echoed outside the arena, reflecting the shock of her unexpected exit from the competition. The Abe siblings, known for their charismatic personalities and strong public presence, were anticipated to continue their Olympic success, but Uta's loss means they will not return home with matching medals from this year's Games. Japan's judo team, which had a remarkable performance at the Tokyo Olympics, is facing challenges in Paris. While Natsumi Tsunoda secured Japan's first gold medal in the women's 48-kilogram category, Ryuju Nagayama's bronze in the men's 60-kilogram event came after a contentious match. Keldiyorova, who defeated Uta Abe, is a formidable competitor, having earned silver medals in the last two world championships and entering the Olympics as the top-ranked athlete in her category.