Watanabe wins gold in Asian Youth Judo championships

CEBU, Philippines – Fil-Japanese judoka Kiyoma Watanabe became the first member of the national team to win gold in the 15th Asian Youth Junior Judo Championship in Dhek Kip Mei Park Sports Center in Hongkong.

The Cebu-born Watanabe bagged the gold medal in the 63 kgs. division. Watanabe has already established herself as the youngest judoka in Philippine judo history to win gold in the Southeast Asian Games through last year's battle in Myanmar.

Though Kiyomi's father is Japanese, she opted to represent the Philippines for her mom Irene, a native of Mandaue City.

Watanabe is one of the only two Cebuano members of the PHL Judo team right now together with Joaquin Niccolo Fernandez.  (FREEMAN)