Japanese judoka Rin Maeda advanced to the final and ultimately secured the gold medal in the women’s under-70kg judo competition at the Asian Games in Nagoya after her Chinese opponent, Tang Jing, was disqualified for biting during their quarter-final match. The incident occurred just over a minute into the bout when Maeda and Tang were grappling on the ground.

According to Japanese judo officials, Tang appeared to bite Maeda’s wrist, leaving visible teeth marks despite Maeda wearing protective tape in that area. After Maeda rose from the mat, she showed the referee the marks, prompting a video review. The judges upheld the disqualification of Tang, allowing Maeda to advance.

Japan’s women’s judo coach Maki Tsukada called the incident unprecedented in her extensive career. She noted that while physical contact injuries such as punches or swelling eyes have occurred before, a biting incident was unheard of at major tournaments like the Asian Games. Tsukada expressed surprise that such behavior was not anticipated and confirmed that the bite marks were clear and pronounced, though they did not require medical treatment beyond observation.

Maeda, 21, reiterated her ambition to win gold going into the tournament and described the experience of preparing for a major multi-sport event as unique but manageable. She defeated Kazakhstan’s Azhar Askhat in the final to claim the top podium spot.

The disqualification and subsequent win mark a significant moment in this year’s Asian Games judo competition, highlighting an unusual disciplinary measure rarely seen in the sport at this level. The organizers and coaching staff have yet to comment further on the conduct of Tang Jing following the incident.