Chapter 420: Targeted Victory

Chapter 420: Targeted Victory

Before the match, a projection screen in the meeting room displayed the tournament bracket. China was in Group B, a veritable group of death. In terms of strength, no team could easily advance to the semifinals or finals. Even the strongest, France, would need to fight fiercely to progress.

In comparison, Japan’s Group A was much clearer.

Of course, Japan had absolute strength to reach the finals, but this grouping made their path far too easy—they could coast to the end without intense battles.

If Japan were placed in Group B, they would still have the strength to reach the finals, but it would be a grueling struggle.

In short, everyone saw this grouping as a way to send Japan into the finals unscathed and at full strength.

A Japan team already powerful, if they entered the finals without injury and in peak form, would be a nightmare for any opponent.

Clearly, this was to ensure Japan secured this newly added event’s gold medal.

That said, for the Chinese team, this wasn’t the primary concern. Their first priority was simply advancing past the first round to the quarterfinals. If possible, they’d push for the semifinals; the finals felt far off. After all, at the Asian Games, China had barely scraped a bronze medal. An Olympic bronze would be a pleasant surprise.

Of course, given the current state of China’s judo team, it wasn’t unreasonable to entertain more ambitious thoughts.

The mixed-gender team event consisted of six weight classes—three for men, three for women. The men’s heaviest class was over 90 kg, where Meng Fan guaranteed a point. Cheng Xunzhao at 90 kg and Yu Song in the women’s heaviest class, though not as stable as Meng Fan, still had winning potential—both had won silver and gold in their respective classes. Statistically, this ensured 2-3 points per match.

As for the other women’s gold medalist, she was undisputed in her weight class, but since her class wasn’t included in the team event, she would have to move up a weight class to compete, which would put her at a severe disadvantage with very low odds of winning. Naturally, she wasn’t considered for the team.

If the weight classes aligned perfectly, China would dare to dream of winning the championship.

The judo team’s technical advisor presented the full roster of their first opponent, the United States. After the projection came up, he said, “The US’s strength lies in the heavier weight classes, which happens to be our advantage too. Men’s 90 kg, 90+ kg, and women’s 70+ kg—barring surprises, we can secure those three points. In the lighter classes, it’s a fifty-fifty split. As long as we perform normally, the first round is ours.”

After delivering this analysis, the technical advisor felt a strange sensation. The Chinese team, which had never held a significant advantage in heavier classes, now found themselves dominant there—like a dream.

“However,” the advisor continued, “Group B is fiercely competitive. To preserve the athletes’ condition, fielding our strongest lineup in the first round could hurt us later. Since the US isn’t too strong, we need to make minor adjustments, especially in the two heaviest classes. They just competed today; if they go full matches tomorrow, the physical demand will be too high.”

Xiao Yunlin nodded. This was a crucial consideration. Excessive energy consumption would greatly affect the athletes’ competitive state.

At that moment, Meng Fan raised his hand during the meeting. “You don’t need to worry about energy consumption for me. I can handle full matches without issue.” After a pause, he added, “After all, even if I fight the whole time, my energy drain won’t be that significant.”

Xiao Yunlin and the others couldn’t help but laugh. Meng Fan wasn’t wrong—other athletes exhausted themselves, but Meng Fan often ended a match with a single move, consuming far less energy. Still, Xiao pressed, “Are you sure? You have several more matches after the team event.”

Meng Fan nodded, confident in his recovery.

“Alright, we’ll arrange things based on the situation.”

Even so, Xiao Yunlin didn’t plan to have Meng Fan fight every match. If another athlete could handle an opponent, they’d let them take it. If other weight classes could secure wins against certain countries, they’d avoid sending Meng Fan in. First, regardless of Meng Fan’s claims, Xiao wanted to conserve his energy. Second, as long as they could win, it was a chance to train other athletes.

Yes, training!

Xiao Yunlin couldn’t help but feel a bit giddy at the thought. Damn, now they dared to use the Olympics as a training ground!

Then he realized the tone of this pre-match meeting had shifted. Normally tense, it had inexplicably become relaxed.

Meanwhile, Cheng Xunzhao raised his hand, offering to fight full matches. He’d finished his competition two days ago, recovered well, and was in excellent form. Yu Song wanted to volunteer too, but Xiao Yunlin didn’t agree—she’d just fought a tough match today, and a full schedule tomorrow would be too draining.

After analyzing the US team, they also reviewed the other three matches in their group, especially potential opponents in the next round. They prepared analyses of each opponent’s techniques and tactics, as well as their own lineup adjustments, so they could adapt smoothly during the competition.

Meng Fan, acting as a half-coach, participated in the analysis. At this point, he naturally wouldn’t hold back—well, he never had. He provided precise breakdowns of opponents’ techniques and tactics, and suggested counter-strategies for his teammates to improve their win rates.

“Uncle!”

“How did you all get here?”

Meng Fan scooped up Xiao Nanshan, who came running with an Olympic gold medal around his neck, and looked happily and curiously at his parents, Meng Caiwei, and Wu Tong.

Standing nearby were a member of the Chinese delegation and a beautiful young woman. The woman said to Meng Caiwei, “You all chat. Call me later.”

She greeted Meng Fan and left with the delegation member.

Meng Caiwei smiled. “Xiaoshan kept insisting on seeing you. Jiang Shangshang happened to be here, so she arranged for us to come in.”

Meng Fan understood and laughed. “I was just thinking that after tomorrow’s team event, I’d have a day off to find you all.”

Holding Xiao Nanshan, Meng Fan led the four of them around the Olympic Village’s public area, then found a place to sit and chat over drinks. Time flew by, and an hour passed quickly. Meng Caiwei called Jiang Shangshang to arrange a meeting spot. The others walked ahead, leaving Wu Tong behind to spend a moment alone with Meng Fan.

Meng Fan and Wu Tong strolled behind, chatting casually. Talk of longing or reunion after a brief separation was unnecessary—Wu Tong had been in Kyoto for days, and Meng Fan often slipped out at night to see her. All the missing had been expressed, all the reunions had been savored, though no one else knew.

The Olympic Village’s gate restrictions didn’t exist for Meng Fan.

At the village entrance, they met Jiang Shangshang. Meng Fan’s parents and the others left, while Meng Fan returned to his dorm.

“Old Zhou.”

Director Xiong went to Director Zhou’s office, looking mysterious. “Earlier, Meng Fan’s parents entered the Olympic Village to see him, escorted by Deputy Leader Lin. Guess who else was there?”

Director Zhou was puzzled until Director Xiong mentioned Jiang Shangshang’s name and noted that Miss Jiang seemed to be good friends with Meng Fan’s sister, Meng Caiwei. Director Zhou let out a long “Oh.” “No wonder!”

Jiang Shangshang’s appearance solved the mystery for them. They now understood the hand behind Meng Fan’s recruitment to the national team and his selection as the Olympic flag bearer. Of course, looking back, those decisions were undeniably brilliant.

The next day, the eighth competition day, would produce 22 gold medals. For Chinese audiences, key events included men’s 25m rapid fire pistol, men’s trampoline, women’s 50m freestyle, men’s 1500m freestyle, mixed 4x100m medley relay, and the judo mixed-gender team event.

These were events where Chinese athletes had a chance at medals or even gold. Swimming goddess Liu Xiang would compete in the women’s 50m freestyle; Big White Yang would race in the men’s 1500m freestyle; and the swimming meme queen, the Primordial Girl, would join three other women in the 4x100m medley relay.

And of course, there was Meng Fan leading the Chinese judo team.

At the Nippon Budokan today, Chinese spectators still made up a large portion, while Japanese spectators were even more numerous than yesterday. Yesterday’s heaviest-class matches had been close, but today’s team event offered a clear advantage.

At 9 a.m., the team event began.

The first round, the round of 16, started simultaneously for Groups A and B.

China was B3. After the first two matches ended, they quickly took the stage against the United States.

All six athletes from each team—three men and three women—lined up and bowed. Then the first match, representing men’s 73 kg, began with the selected athletes staying on the mat.

“Just attack the lower body.”

Before stepping off, Meng Fan had clearly identified the US representative. He quietly instructed Li Wei, who was competing at 73 kg.

Li Wei had decent strength in this weight class. In the individual event earlier, if he hadn’t faced the eventual champion prematurely, he might have reached the semifinals instead of stopping at the quarterfinals.

Li Wei trusted Meng Fan completely. He gave an OK sign to show he understood, and once the match started, he faithfully executed Meng Fan’s “battle plan.” Whenever he had an opportunity, he attacked the lower body, throwing a whole series of techniques—uchimata, osoto gari, kouchi gari, kosoto gari—at his opponent.

Within a minute, he had intimidated the opponent. The American dodged twice, earning two shido penalties, and the pressure mounted. Seeing the effect, Li Wei’s momentum surged. The two were evenly matched in skill, but with this targeted approach, the odds shifted to 70-30. Eventually, Li Wei secured the first victory with a yuko and two shidos.

The American left the mat shouting in frustration—it was a humiliating defeat.

The second match was at 90 kg. The US fielded a decent athlete, but China sent out the silver medalist in that weight class. The gap was clear. In just over a minute and thirty seconds, Cheng Xunzhao won by ippon.

The third match was at 90+ kg. Meng Fan won.

With three consecutive wins, China’s representative at women’s 57 kg, Feng Xuemei, faced the US bronze medalist from this Olympics in that weight class. Despite being at a clear disadvantage, at 2 minutes and 10 seconds, she pulled off a stunning comeback. After a counter and a missed grip, she executed an uchi mata followed by a ko uchi gari, sending her opponent into a sideways fall, and won by ippon!

4:0!

The Chinese judo team advanced to the quarterfinals!

“This!”

Xiao Yunlin and the technical advisors were stunned, then erupted in cheers. They all turned to look at Meng Fan—that combination technique was unmistakably from the “Meng School.”

Meng Fan was also surprised. That sequence was truly inspired!

It was difficult for a female athlete to execute such a combination, but Feng Xuemei had done it smoothly, timing it perfectly. It was a stroke of genius.

The Chinese judo team advanced. Their next opponent was already determined: the winner of B2, Russia.

Russia was much stronger than the US. Their athletes were well-balanced across all weight classes, both men and women, and their technical and tactical level was high. Strategically, finding weaknesses would be tough; they’d have to rely on tactical solutions. In short, this would be a hard-fought battle.

“Yu, be ready to compete in this match.”

Xiao Yunlin had little choice; Yu Song was very likely to play in this match, and then three others were arranged, with Meng Fan and Cheng Xu both expected to play the entire game.

Soon, all four first-round matches of Group B concluded.

Among them, B7 and B8 were France and South Korea. In the end, France defeated South Korea 4:2 to advance to the quarterfinals, while South Korea was eliminated outright.

Speaking of which, South Korea's judo performance in this Olympics was rather tragic. In the previous Games, they had won two silvers and one bronze, but this time, being knocked out by France meant their judo competition was entirely over. As of now, South Korea had not won a single medal, drawing a perfect circle of failure.

If one were to ask how much of this was related to Meng Fan, there certainly was some connection, but Meng Fan insisted he would not take the blame. The big responsibility should be left for the Japanese to bear, since the South Koreans themselves thought so too.

South Korean judo athletes never had particularly strong gold-medal prospects at the Olympics; there was no such thing as a guaranteed medal. If luck turned against them, losing everything was normal. Luck, after all, came in two kinds: natural and man-made. The natural kind was hard to predict, but the man-made kind could be controlled. The Japanese could let their own athletes draw favorable numbers, and of course, they could also let South Korean athletes draw unfavorable ones.

At the very least, the frequency of South Korean protests in this Olympics was the highest ever—not only in judo but in many other events as well. Whenever they lost, they immediately protested that the Japanese Olympic Committee was secretly manipulating things and that the schedule was extremely unfair to them.

As for the protests by South Korean athletes, the world had long grown accustomed to them, treating them purely as entertainment news. No one bothered to investigate whether the Japanese had actually rigged anything.

(End of chapter)