TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's judo stars are gearing up for the Paris Olympics, aiming for gold. Yang Yung-wei (楊勇緯), who clinched silver at the Tokyo Olympics, will compete as the top seed in the men's 60 kg category. His battle with Japan's Naohisa Takato at the Tokyo Olympics ended in a narrow defeat, marking Taiwan's first judo Olympic medal and setting the stage for the Chinese Taipei team's record-breaking performance of 2 golds, 4 silvers, and 6 bronzes in Olympic history.
Yang, ranked world No. 1, has continued to excel, winning gold at last year's Hangzhou Asian Games and silver at this year's World Judo Championships. He has enlisted a Mongolian coach to bring new elements to his training, hoping to fulfill his dream of Olympic gold in Paris.
Lien Chen-ling (連珍羚), known as the "Judo Queen," captured gold in the women's 57 kg category at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. Competing in her third Olympics, Lien, 36, emphasized that age has made her more mature and calm, allowing her to focus on showcasing her hard-earned skills and aiming for the podium.
Lin Chen-hao (林真豪), who debuted in the women's 48 kg category at the Tokyo Olympics and finished seventh, has shown she can compete with the world's best. Drawing on her Olympic experience, Lin aims to further improve her performance in Paris.
Taiwan's judo team, with its blend of experience and fresh strategies, looks poised to give their best in Paris. Fans eagerly await their performances, hoping for another historic Olympic run.