Mika Sugimoto

A member of the Komatsu women's judo team has been chosen to compete in the women's judo event at the upcoming London Olympics.

On 12 May, Mika Sugimoto won the championship title for the over-78 kg (172 lb.) category in the 2012 All Japan Weight Category Judo Championships, winning for the fourth consecutive year. The next day, the national team management committee of the All Japan Judo Federation selected Sugimoto to represent Japan at the Olympics.

She was also selected as an Olympic contestant based on her previous experience and wins in major judo events in Japan and overseas. Her achievements include winning bronze at the World Judo Championships in Paris, France and the World Championship Open in Tyumen, Russia, last year; and gold at the World Judo Championships in Tokyo in 2010.

Sugimoto was born in Hyogo Prefecture in Japan. Her favourite judo throwing technique is "harai goshi".