Haruka Kitaguchi uncorks a throw during the Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo on Sunday.
17:10 JST, May 20, 2024
TOKYO (AFP-Jiji) – World women’s javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan said she is starting to find her form ahead of the Paris Olympics after winning the Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo on Sunday.
The 26-year-old launched a final throw of 63.45 meters to leap to first place, ahead of Colombian Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado on 62.06 and New Zealander Tori Peeters on 61.26.
Kitaguchi also defeated Ruiz Hurtado last year in her final effort in Budapest to become the first Japanese woman ever to win a world championship in a field event.
She followed that up by triumphing in the 2023 Diamond League final, and is aiming for more success at the Paris Games in just over two months.
“I’ve been able to work on my physical fitness over the past two weeks and I feel like I’m starting to get back into shape,” said Kitaguchi.
“I’m happy that I won in the end, but I would have liked to have thrown 63 a little earlier.”
Kitaguchi will compete in her second Olympics after finishing 12th at the pandemic-postponed Games in Tokyo three years ago.
China’s Liu Shiying won Olympic gold with a throw of 66.34, ahead of Poland’s Maria Andrejczyk on 64.61 and Australia’s Kelsey-Lee Barber on 64.56.
“I don’t think my throws today would be good enough to win a medal [in Paris] but I want to prepare in the next two to three weeks so that I can get one,” Kitaguchi said.
Kitaguchi will be Japan’s leading medal contender in Paris and she will also be in the spotlight when Tokyo hosts the world championships next year.
