All-Japan All Around Championships 2023: World gold medallist Watanabe Hazuki wins women's crown
The balance beam queen at last year's world championships in Liverpool captures her first All-Japan title. But a cloud hung over the competition as a couple of Paris 2024 hopefuls including 14-year-old junior world silver medallist Yamaguchi Sara is seriously hurt.
Artistic Gymnastics
After storming to the balance beam gold at last year’s World Artistic Gymnastics Championships as an injury replacement, Watanabe Hazuki didn’t want to be known as a one-trick pony.
She went out and proved it on Saturday (22 April), when the 18-year-old won the women’s title at the All-Japan All Around Championships in Tokyo.
“I’ve been watching this competition on TV since I was a kid,” said Watanabe, whose 106.963 points edged Miyata Shoko by less than two-tenths of a point for her maiden championship. Kishi Rina, 15, was third (106.764).
“The fact I won it hasn’t sunk in yet but I made no huge errors throughout and I like to think it’s the result of all the work I put in.
“I’ve always wanted to be a gymnast who can win the all around. I’m happy but there’s still the NHK Trophy. I can’t let up yet.”
Watanabe’s triumph was slightly overshadowed by a pair of gruesome injuries in her rotation group - first to Yamada Chiharu and then to 14-year-old prodigy Yamaguchi Sara, the prized jewel of Japanese female gymnastics who by many insiders had been tipped for stardom at Paris 2024.
Both Yamaguchi and Yamada injured their left knee, the Japan Gymnastics Association said. They were immediately transported to hospital and awaiting test results.
The afternoon at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium got off to a disturbing start as Yamada went down on the first apparatus in the first rotation group.
Yamada, third in qualifying and third overall at last year’s championships, crumbled to the mats as she landed off the vault.
The 20-year-old didn’t move an inch clutching her knees and had to be stretchered away from the podium. Absolute silence pierced the arena.
But the bleeding, unfortunately, would not stop there and continue in the third rotation.
Yamaguchi, hoping to celebrate her 15th birthday in six days wearing a crown after qualifying for the final first, was clean on the balance beam (13.166) and leapt for the finish.
It did not appear to be the hard landing Yamada suffered but Yamaguchi’s left knee buckled awkwardly and she too collapsed while grabbing her leg.
The medics wasted no time bringing out the stretcher. Yamaguchi’s knee remained bent as she was strapped down and whisked away.
Watanabe watched the consecutive tragedies unfold right before her eyes. She admitted it was not easy keeping her composure for the final two events.
Last year here, Watanabe was second with one apparatus to go. But she got greedy on the opening jump, falling to floor which ultimately cost her the championship.
On Saturday, she made sure there was no slip up.
“I tried to worry about me and trust the work I put in until now,” Watanabe said. “Just tried to stay confident. I told myself before the performance that I would be OK.
“You never know what can happen. I tried not to worry about what place I was in and focused on finishing the routine."
The All-Japans wrap with the men’s final on Sunday.