Abe Hifumi, Uta among four named early for Paris 2024 as Japan judo get head start
The invincible Japanese siblings and reigning Olympic champions are joined by first-time Games selections Tsunoda Natsumi and Niizoe Saki in the women's -48kg and -70kg, respectively.
Judo
Olympic champion sibilings Abe Hifumi and Uta have won early qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the All Japan Judo Federation said.
Also named for the 26 July-12 August Games following a meeting of the development committee on Thursday (29 June) evening were Tsunoda Natsumi and Niizoe Saki.
All four won their respective weight classes at the world championships in Doha last month - Hifumi in the men's -66kg and Uta the women's -52kg with Tsunoda and Niizoe also in the women's at -48kg and -70kg each.
This is the earliest the AJJF has handed out tickets in advance of a Games. The remaining 10 judoka for Paris will be named by the end of the year after the Tokyo Grand Slam in December.
The AJJF moved to lock in the four because they have dominated their categories and wanted to give them ample time to prepare for next summer.
At Tokyo 2020, Japan won an Olympic record of nine gold medals in judo. Hifumi and Uta became the first siblings in history to win gold on the same day.