Ippon agony: Judoka Amir lets Japan star escape at Asian Games

AICHI, Malaysia - Judoka Amir Daniel Abdul Majeed came tantalizingly close to an upset victory in the men's under-81kg category at the Asian Games but fell short by just one second. The 21-year-old Malaysian faced former world runner-up Sotaro Fujiwara of Japan in a round-of-16 bout at the Aichi International Arena. Amir held Fujiwara down for 19 seconds, a move that would have earned him an ippon if not for the Japanese judoka breaking free just before the required 20 seconds.

Fujiwara then scored an ippon, ending Amir's challenge and denying him a spot in the quarter-finals. Amir admitted that a last-second tactical shift was the reason for his loss, but he saw the experience as a crucial lesson for his career, saying, "I need to learn from this expensive mistake and carry these lessons forward into my Olympic dream."

The Malaysian admitted he was nervous competing in his first Asian Games and in Japan, the birthplace of judo, but emphasized that anything can happen in the sport. Contesting at the Asian Games had given Amir a clearer understanding of the level he must reach in his pursuit of an Olympic berth, emphasizing the importance of experience and trusting in his own abilities.