Today in the history: 28 December

Kaori Yamaguchi celebrates her birthday. Yamaguchi became world champion in 1984 in Vienna beating Edith Hrovat on home soil. Yamaguchi later became Japan’s National Women's Team Coach.

In Malaga, in the south of Spain, the sun always shines. Also today in 1976 when the international tournament was held.
Spanish Ignacio Sanz Paz lost the final to Charles Betrian, but did win six national titles since than until 1983, most over in the category U78kg.

One of the winners in 1976 was Jürgen Roethlisberger who became Olympic Champion in 1980 U86kg in Moscow for Switzerland. In 1976 he already finished third at the Montreal Olympics.

Don’t we all dream about some sunny days in Malaga? In that respect the southern city has a reputation of judo events in December. In 2000 the World University Championships in Malaga were held mid December where many later Olympic medalist won the University world title like Masato Uchishiba, Josef Krnac, Antal Kovács, Igor Makarov and Edith Bosch.