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AFP: Ex-judo champion Inoue to retire after spectacular defeat
Japan's former Olympic and world judo champion Kosei Inoue said Wednesday he was retiring after failing to qualify for the Beijing Games due to his spectacular defeat at the national championship...He was aiming for a spot in Beijing to cap his comeback from his loss in the under-100kg quarter-finals at the Athens Olympics. He has stepped up to the over-100kg heavyweight and overcome a major chest injury. Inoue said he planned to study abroad, possibly in Britain, but that he wanted to stay involved in the sport...Inoue, who has won the hearts of judo fans for his passion to win by ippon, was floored by a counter-attack when he attempted his favourite "uchi-mata" leg throw on Takai with 10 seconds left in the six-minute match. Takai immediately immobilised Inoue to win by a full point. "I wanted to keep on going to the last moment for an ippon. I was obsessed with uchi-mata and then I was countered," Inoue said. "I felt blank for a moment. I usually feel regrets when I lose. But this time I just felt it was over"...more...