Kiyomi Watanabe

Kiyomi Watanabe (渡辺 聖未, Watanabe Kiyomi), is a Japanese-Filipino judoka who has represented the Philippines in international competitions.

Kiyomi Watanabe
渡辺 聖未

Personal information
Birth name	Kiyomi Watanabe
Full name	Kiyomi Sarausad Watanabe
Nickname(s)	K
Nationality	Filipino
Born	August 25, 1996 Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines (Cebu Doctors Hospital)
Height	170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	63 kg (139 lb)
Sport
Country	Philippines
Sport	Judo
Event(s)	-63 kg, 70kg
University team	Waseda University
Club	ADVICS co
Coached by	Yuta Yazaki
Now coaching	Yes
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking	28 October 2019
Medal record Representing  Philippines Women's Judo Event 1st 2nd 3rd Asian Games 0 1 0 International Judo Federation World Tour 0 0 1 European Open Women Championship 0 1 0 Southeast Asian Games 4 0 1 Asian Youth Judo Championships 1 0 1 Total 5 2 3 Asian Games Jakarta–Palembang 2018 63kg International Judo Federation World Tour Paris 2017 63kg European Open Women Championship Austria 2017 63kg Southeast Asian Games 2019 Philippines 63kg 2017 Kuala Lumpur 63kg 2015 Singapore 63kg 2013 Napyidaw 63kg 2011 Jakarta-Palembang 70kg Asian Youth Judo Championships Hong Kong 2014 63kg Hainan 2013 63kg

Early life and education

She was born on August 25, 1996[1][2] in Cebu City to a Filipino mother from Mandaue and a Japanese father. She spent some part of her childhood in Cebu City and studied at St. Paul Learning Center. She moved to Japan when she was eight years old.[3]

Watanabe entered Waseda University to obtain a degree in sports science. She is a second year student by February 2016.[4]

Career

Philippines

She first competed for the Philippines at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.[3]

She won a gold medal for the Philippines at the 2013 Southeast Asian Games in the women's 64 kg event. She also won a bronze at the 2013 Asian Youth Judo Championship in Hainan, China.[5][6][7]

As of December 2013, she ranks fourth in her weight division in Japan. Her mother, Irene Sarausad has assured that her daughter will continue in representing the Philippines.[3]

Watanabe won the Philippines' first gold medal at the Asian Youth Judo Championship during the tournaments 2014 edition held in December 13–14 in Hong Kong.[8]

In order to qualify in the 2016 Summer Olympics, Watanabe competed in the Paris Grand Slam in February 2016 and will compete at the Asian Judo Senior's Championship held in Uzbekistan on April of the same year.[9] Watanabe ended as one of the top 16 judokas at the tournament held in Paris.[4]

On February 12, 2017 at the Grand Slam Paris, Watanabe won a bronze medal after defeating Lucy Renshall of the United Kingdom in the under 63 kilogram event. The medal was the first for the Philippines in the IJF World Judo Tour.[10] She later settled for silver after losing to Austrian Kathrin Unterwurzacher in the final of the same category at the 2017 European Women's Open Tournament in Austria. Watanabe breached the top 25 of the Judo world rankings which was released by the International Judo Federation in the same month. She was ranked 23.[11]

The Philippines' first silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games was from Watanabe who lost to Nami Nabekura of Japan in the women's -63kg final.[12]

Tournaments in Japan

Watanabe won a silver at the 2014 All Japan High School Judo Championship. She later won gold medals at the All Japan College University Championship and All Japan Teams Championship in 2015.[4]

References

1. "Athletes Profile - WATANABE Kiyomi". 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014. 17th Asian Games Organizing Committee. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
2. Cin, Stanley (December 26, 2013). "Filipino-Japanese judoka enjoys competing for the Philippines - Cebu Provincial Government". www.cebu.gov.ph. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
3. Reijet Jarreau Lazaro Pelea, Tridel Technologies Inc. (December 21, 2013). "Despite language barrier, Fil-Japanese rises | Manila Bulletin | Latest Breaking News | News Philippines". Mb.com.ph. Archived from the original on March 3, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
4. Noguera, Emil (February 13, 2016). "SEA Games champion Watanabe braces for Olympic qualifying events". The Manila Times. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
5. Carpio, Gerry (December 21, 2013). "Watanabe, Ramirez pin down two golds in judo | Sports, News, The Philippine Star". philstar.com. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
6. "Team Philippines tops modest goal with 3 golds | Inquirer Sports". Sports.inquirer.net. December 21, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
7. "Judoka Kiyomi Watanabe earns 2014 Youth Olympic Games berth | Pinoy Headline dot Com". Pinoyheadline.com. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
8. Terrado, Reuben (December 25, 2014). "Kiyomi Watanabe strikes after winning gold in Asian Judo Junior Championships". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
9. Leyba, Olmin (January 5, 2016). "Judoka eyes qualifying tiffs for Rio Olympics". Philippine Star. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
10. Terrado, Reuben (February 13, 2017). "Kiyomi Watanabe bags bronze in Paris to give Philippines first-ever medal in World Judo Tour". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
11. Leyba, Olmin (February 25, 2017). "Watanabe ranks 23rd in world judo". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
12. Naredo, Camille (August 30, 2018). "Kiyomi Watanabe earns Philippines' first silver medal in 2018 Asian Games". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 4, 2018.