Tang Jing disqualified after allegedly biting Rin Maeda in women's 70kg at Asian Games in Nagoya

Chinese judoka Tang Jing was disqualified after allegedly biting Japan’s Rin Maeda during the women’s 70kg quarter-final at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Thursday, October 1. A video of the incident has been circulating online and the ruling allowed Maeda to advance in the competition.

The two athletes were grappling on the ground when Tang appeared to bite Maeda just above the wrist and the referee called “Mate”, sending them back to their starting positions. Maeda rolled up her sleeve to show the referee her left forearm, where there appeared to be a mark just above the wrist, and the pair waited about a couple of minutes while officials reviewed video footage. After the review, Tang was reportedly disqualified for unsportsmanlike behaviour and Maeda progressed to the next round.

Tang, 31, a three-time Asian Games medallist, appeared to disagree with the decision; she then shook hands with Maeda and left the competition area without speaking to reporters. Officials’ review of the footage preceded the disqualification ruling, which ended the quarter-final bout.

Japan women’s judo coach Maki Tsukada said the mark “looked like it was really going to bleed.” She told The Digest the teeth marks were “clearly and firmly there”, noting Maeda had been wearing protective tape on that part of her arm and that no disinfecting was needed. Tsukada added it was a first in her long career and that her team had not expected anything like it.

Maeda described the incident to reporters, saying, “It’s not something that happens very often, so it was a first for me.” She added she “felt a little pain, but once I got on the mat, the adrenaline kicked in and I didn’t really notice it.”

Maeda went on to beat Kazakhstan’s Azhar Askhat in the final and take the gold medal.