Photo/Illutration HANGZHOU, China--Mongolia’s Sosorbaram Lkhagvasuren and Indonesia’s Maryam Maharani in action at the 2022 Asian Games during the women’s 52-kg contest for bronze medal at Xiaoshan Linpu Gymnasium here. Originally scheduled to take place from Sept. 10 to 25, 2022, the Games were postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This photo was taken on Sept. 24, 2023. (Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon)

On the third day of the Paris Olympics, Indonesian judoka Maryam Maharani, 24, executed a clean throw against her Mozambican opponent, 45 seconds into the first round of the women’s 52-kilogram event.

At the moment of victory, Maharani clenched her fist, looking as if she was going to weep for joy. She had just become the first Indonesian judoka to win a round of an Olympic event.

Nicknamed Rani, she has had the support of Japanese judo instructors for years.

Among them is Toshiya Anzai, 64, who first saw Maharani at a dojo in Jakarta 10 years ago. Noting her outstanding speed and tenacity, Anzai knew she was special, and felt she would go far if properly trained.

Anzai was a member of the first group of Japan Overseas Cooperation volunteers dispatched to Indonesia in 1988 by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

He has remained a judo instructor in Indonesia ever since, irrespective of changes in his professional status. So far, seven of his students have made it to the Olympics, but none has won an event.

Scoring an Olympic win has been a long-cherished dream of the Indonesian Judo Federation, too. Banking on Rani’s potential and with Anzai’s help, the federation sent her many times to Japanese universities to train as a “visitor.”

Over the last two years, the federation also helped her accrue enough points to qualify for the Olympics by sending her to international competitions. As a result, she was able to secure her Olympic berth as an Asian athlete.

In the second round of the 52-kg event, Rani lost by “ippon” to a judoka from Kosovo who went on to win the silver medal.

“(My opponent) was too fast to defend against,” Rani said. She flew home the next day to train for the next Olympics.

Not all athletes who are in Paris now are from “sports superpowers,” nor are they under excessive pressure to win medals for their countries.

There also are Olympians who are only pursuing modest goals, and some may be receiving steady support from trainers who are not from their own countries.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 3

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.