Japan takes gold as Kano wins men’s epee, Yoshizawa beats skateboarding; 2 silver medals taken as Nadeshiko wins

PARIS — Japan’s Koki Kano defeated local French hero Yannick Borel in the men’s epee fencing event, adding to Japan’s fortunes on the third day of the Paris Olympics, winning three gold and two silver medals on Sunday.

With his victory, the 26-year-old Kano became the first Japanese to take home Olympic gold in an individual fencing event.

In judo, 26-year-old Tokyo Olympic champion Hifumi Abe successfully defended his title by winning gold in the men’s 66-kilogram event. It is the first time Japan has won back-to-back 66-kilogram events since Masato Uchishiba won gold at the 2004 Athens Games and then the 2008 Beijing Games.

In skateboarding, 14-year-old Coco Yoshizawa took gold in the women’s street final in her first Olympic appearance. Japan took the two podium spots when Liz Akama, 15, took silver in the event.

In swimming, Tomoyuki Matsushita, 18, won silver in the men’s 400-meter individual medley, marking his first appearance at the Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, Japan’s women’s team defeated Brazil 2-1 in their second Group C match, with Nadeshiko scoring two goals in second-half injury time, including an instinctive long-range shot from Momoko Tanikawa that went over the Brazilian keeper to complete a comeback. Japan now have three points after two games and will play Nigeria in their final group match on Wednesday.