Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Four Japanese marathon runners qualified for the Paris Olympic Games after competing in the Marathon Grand Championship in Tokyo on Sunday.

KOYAMA Naoki won the men’s race in two hours, eight minutes and 57 seconds and was followed in by AKASAKI Akira in two hours, nine minutes and six seconds. They both qualified for next year’s Olympics in Paris. OSAKA Suguru finished third.

In the women’s race, SUZUKI Yukari took first place in two hours, 24 minutes and nine seconds. ICHIYAMA Mao was second 32 seconds behind and also qualified for Paris. Third was HOSODA Ai, seven second behind Ichiyama.

KOIKE Yuriko, the Governor of Tokyo, attended and noted that 14,193 participants had registered for the Marathon Grand Championship and the Legacy Half Marathon.

The Legacy Half Marathon Elite reserved for disabled categorieswas won by Kenyan Kiptum, who crossed the finishing line inone hour, one minute and 10 seconds, but this race was not a qualifier for the Paris Paralympic Games.

Long-distance running is one of the most popular sports in Japan and is often shown live on TV.