Father Shigenobu Murofushi and son Koji Murofushi (Reuters Photo) A father and son who built their legacy in hammer throw shared one of the biggest moments of the Asian Games opening ceremony on Saturday. Japan’s Shigenobu Murofushi and his son Koji Murofushi jointly lit the cauldron at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, bringing the torch relay to a memorable end.
Both Shigenobu and Koji are former Asian Games champions in hammer throw. The duo climbed the stairs to the podium together before lighting the cauldron.
The ceremony featured dance, music and fireworks as the Asian Games officially opened in Aichi-Nagoya. From Olympic champion to father-son momentThe cauldron lighting was the final part of a relay involving some of Japan’s biggest sporting names.
Women’s wrestler Fujinami Akari brought the torch into the stadium before passing it to four-time Olympic swimming champion Kitajima Kosuke. The torch then went to Ito Koji, a three-time gold medallist in athletics at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.
Takahashi Ayaka, the 2016 Rio Olympics badminton women’s doubles champion, was next. Shigenobu Murofushi and Koji Murofushi (Reuters Photo) The torch was then handed to Koji Murofushi, the 2004 Athens Olympics hammer throw champion.
The final torchbearer was his father, Shigenobu Murofushi, who won the Asian Games hammer throw title five times in a row. The two then came together to light the cauldron, which had a metallic design inspired by the shape of a heart.
Who is Shigenobu Murofushi? Shigenobu Murofushi is one of Japan’s most successful hammer throwers.
He competed at three Olympic Games — Munich 1972, Montreal 1976 and Los Angeles 1984. He also served as Japan’s flag-bearer at the 1984 Olympics.
Murofushi initially tried sumo and shot put before taking up hammer throw. 96m.
That mark remained the national record until his son Koji broke it in 1998. Shigenobu won the Asian Games hammer throw gold medal in 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982 and 1986.
He also won silver in 1966. His Asian Games medal record includes five gold medals and one silver.
He also won gold at the 1979 and 1981 Asian Championships. Shigenobu’s Olympic journeyWhile Shigenobu dominated the Asian Games, an Olympic medal remained out of reach.
