{"id":26321,"date":"2026-09-19T16:08:20","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T16:08:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=26321"},"modified":"2026-09-19T16:08:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T16:08:20","slug":"father-son-duo-makes-history-five-time-asian-games-champion-shigenobu-murofushi-and-olympic-gold-medallist-son-koji-light-cauldron-in-aichi-nagoya-asian-games-2026-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=26321","title":{"rendered":"Father-son duo makes history: Five-time Asian Games champion Shigenobu Murofushi and Olympic gold medallist son Koji light cauldron in Aichi-Nagoya | Asian Games 2026 News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134356626,imgsize-51913,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg\" alt=\"Father-son duo makes history: Five-time Asian Games champion Shigenobu Murofushi and Olympic gold medallist son Koji light cauldron in Aichi-Nagoya\" title=\"Father Shigenobu Murofushi and son Koji Murofushi (Reuters Photo)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Father Shigenobu Murofushi and son Koji Murofushi (Reuters Photo)\">Father Shigenobu Murofushi and son Koji Murofushi (Reuters Photo)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A father and son who built their legacy in hammer throw shared one of the biggest moments of the <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/asian-games\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Asian Games<\/a> opening ceremony on Saturday.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"3\"\/>Japan\u2019s 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.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"8\"\/>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.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/>The ceremony featured dance, music and fireworks as the Asian Games officially opened in Aichi-Nagoya.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"12\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>From Olympic champion to father-son moment<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/>The cauldron lighting was the final part of a relay involving some of Japan\u2019s biggest sporting names.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"16\"\/>Women\u2019s wrestler Fujinami Akari brought the torch into the stadium before passing it to four-time Olympic swimming champion Kitajima Kosuke.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/>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\u2019s doubles champion, was next.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"22\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Embed-Murofushi--son-dad-19\" msid=\"134356646\" imgsize=\"55330\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"Shigenobu Murofushi and Koji Murofushi (Reuters Photo)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-55330,msid-134356646\/embed-murofushi-son-dad-19.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Shigenobu Murofushi and Koji Murofushi (Reuters Photo)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"24\"\/>The torch was then handed to Koji Murofushi, the 2004 Athens Olympics hammer throw champion.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"26\"\/>The final torchbearer was his father, Shigenobu Murofushi, who won the Asian Games hammer throw title five times in a row.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"28\"\/>The two then came together to light the cauldron, which had a metallic design inspired by the shape of a heart.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Who is Shigenobu Murofushi?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"33\"\/>Shigenobu Murofushi is one of Japan\u2019s most successful hammer throwers. He competed at three Olympic Games \u2014 Munich 1972, Montreal 1976 and Los Angeles 1984.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"35\"\/>He also served as Japan\u2019s flag-bearer at the 1984 Olympics.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"37\"\/>Murofushi initially tried sumo and shot put before taking up hammer throw. In 1984, he set a Japanese record of 75.96m. That mark remained the national record until his son Koji broke it in 1998.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"39\"\/>Shigenobu won the Asian Games hammer throw gold medal in 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982 and 1986. <!-- -->He also won silver in 1966.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"43\"\/>His Asian Games medal record includes five gold medals and one silver.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"45\"\/>He also won gold at the 1979 and 1981 Asian Championships.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"47\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Shigenobu\u2019s Olympic journey<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"49\"\/>While Shigenobu dominated the Asian Games, an Olympic medal remained out of reach.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"51\"\/>He finished eighth at the 1972 Munich Olympics, 11th at Montreal 1976 and 15th at Los Angeles 1984.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"53\"\/>His son would later achieve what he could not at the Olympics.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"55\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Koji Murofushi followed his father\u2019s footsteps<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"57\"\/>Koji started hammer throw at the age of 10 under the guidance of his father.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"60\"\/>He went on to become one of the leading hammer throwers in the world. Koji won the silver medal at the 2001 World Championships before claiming bronze in 2003.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"62\"\/>His biggest Olympic moment came at the 2004 Athens Games, where he won the hammer throw gold medal.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"64\"\/>He added an Olympic bronze at the 2012 London Games.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"66\"\/>Koji also became world champion in 2011 in Daegu.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"68\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Embed-Murofushi--son-dad2-1\" msid=\"134356650\" imgsize=\"31962\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"Shigenobu Murofushi and Koji Murofushi (Reuters Photo)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-31962,msid-134356650\/embed-murofushi-son-dad2-1.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Shigenobu Murofushi and Koji Murofushi (Reuters Photo)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"70\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Koji\u2019s Asian Games medal record<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"72\"\/>Koji continued his family\u2019s success at the Asian Games.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"74\"\/>He won gold in hammer throw at Bangkok in 1998 and Busan in 2002. <!-- -->He had earlier won silver at Hiroshima in 1994.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"78\"\/>His Asian Games record therefore includes two gold medals and one silver.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"80\"\/>Koji also won gold at the 2002 Asian Championships and three silver medals at the continental championships in 1993, 1995 and 1998.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"82\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>A family legacy comes full circle<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"84\"\/>The Murofushis have now added another special chapter to their long sporting legacy.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"86\"\/>Shigenobu dominated the Asian Games in the 1970s and 1980s. Koji followed him into the event and later became an Olympic and world champion.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"89\"\/>On Saturday, the father and son stood together at the centre of the Asian Games opening ceremony \u2014 not to compete, but to light the flame that officially began the Games.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"91\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Glittering opening ceremony<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"93\"\/>The 20th Asian Games officially began in Nagoya with a two-hour opening ceremony at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. Japan&#8217;s Emperor Naruhito officially declared the Games open. Empress Masako, members of the Japanese imperial family, Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry were also present at the ceremony.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"97\"\/>The event started with the Japanese national anthem and the raising of the national flag. Nine members of the Japanese Self-Defence Forces carried the flag to the stage before it was hoisted.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"99\"\/>The stadium was then turned dark, with a spotlight focused on the Japanese flag.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"101\"\/>The ceremony was followed by the parade of athletes. Teams from 45 nations and regions took part, along with the OCA Refugee Team, taking the total number of participating delegations to 46.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/sports\/asian-games-2026\/father-son-duo-makes-history-five-time-asian-games-champion-shigenobu-murofushi-and-olympic-gold-medallist-son-koji-light-cauldron-in-aichi-nagoya\/articleshow\/134356286.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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\u2019s Shigenobu Murofushi and his son Koji Murofushi jointly lit the cauldron at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, bringing the torch [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26322,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/murofushi-son-dad-1909.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"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\u2019s Shigenobu Murofushi and his son Koji Murofushi jointly lit the cauldron at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, bringing the torch [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 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