LONDON -- When the judo events kick off at the Rio de Janeiro games, the home team will send out a defending Olympic champion on the first day of competition.With five other top-ranked judoka on its Olympic team, Brazil has a particularly strong home advantage. Although judo has traditionally been dominated by the Japanese, who created the modern martial art, the combat sport has become truly universal. That means the Japanese team, which won only a single gold medal at London in its worst-ever Olympic showing -- is no longer the favorite.Marius Vizer, president of the International Judo Federation, said he expects to see more unexpected winners at Rio.I think Mongolia will be the big surprise of the Olympic games, he said. Vizer also noted strong fighters from the U.S., Greece, Georgia, France, Russia, Cuba and South Korea. There will also be two refugee competitors, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, competing under the International Olympic Committee flag.Vizer said some rule changes to judo -- including the outlawing of leg grabs -- were made to distinguish the sport from others like wrestling and will hopefully inspire more fighters to attempt the big throws judo is known for. Fights can be won instantly if judoka flip their opponents flat on their back with considerable force and speed.While some have criticized the rule changes arguing that they favor the Japanese style of judo, which focuses on throws rather than the groundwork component of judo, Vizer said the tweaks are necessary to modernize the sport.Countries with a strong wrestling tradition, such as those in Eastern Europe and Brazil, have typically produced judo fighters who win once judo fighters end up on the ground. Thats when competitors struggle to either pin their opponents for 20 seconds or force them to tap out by applying a stranglehold or an armbar, a move where the limb is hyperextended to the point it might break.RETURNING STARFrenchman Teddy Riner is simply the most successful judoka of all time. The 27-year-old heavyweight has won a record eight world championship titles, five European titles and two Olympic medals, including a gold at the London games. At 6-foot-8 inches, Riner strikes an imposing figure on the judo mat but moves surprisingly fast for a heavyweight. Riner tends to dominate by throwing his big right arm over his opponents head to take control of the fight, and very few of his competitors have been able to prevent Riner from securing a dominant grip on their uniforms.BEST RIVALRYAfter becoming the first American to win a judo gold medal, Kayla Harrison will be looking to defend her title in Rio. Her biggest roadblock might be longtime rival Brazilian Mayra Aguiar, who defeated Harrison at a Paris competition earlier this year with a match-ending throw. The two have now fought 16 times -- and split the victories evenly. At a world cup final in Sao Paolo several years ago where Harrison won over Aguiar on penalties, she was booed by the local crowd. Harrison described Brazilian judo fans as wild after the experience. Good thing I dont speak Portuguese, because if I did, I might cry.OLYMPIAN EFFORTTwo judoka athletes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be fighting as part of the IOC refugee team in Rio. Yolande Bukasa Mabika will be competing in the womens 70-kilogram division and Popole Misenga will be fighting in the mens 90-kilogram division. The two are currently training in Brazil. Misenga sought asylum in Brazil when he arrived to compete in the world championships being held there and credits the technical training he has received with making him a better fighter.You cant let people think that just because they are refugees, they have to stop what theyre doing, he said. Even though they are refugees, they need to continue practicing their sport.---Rachel Cohen in New York contributed to this report. Buy Basketball Shoes Nz . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. 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The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner.Arsenal have been strongly linked with Juventus Alvaro Morata, but is he the striker theyre looking for? The clock was ticking towards a penalty shoot-out when Massimiliano Allegri signalled to the hunched figure sitting restlessly on the Juventus bench. Twelve minutes remained to break AC Milans resistance in a dour Coppa Italia final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. In the end, Alvaro Morata only needed two.One hundred and twenty-two seconds after jogging onto the pitch in place of midfielder Hernanes, Morata swept Juan Cuadrados cross into the net with his first touch. The goal clinched an historic second consecutive domestic double for Juventus, and it further enhanced the Spaniards reputation as a big-game specialist. Since joining the Old Lady last season, Morata has scored in both legs of a Champions League semi-final against boyhood club Real Madrid. He has scored in a Champions League final against Barcelona. He has scored decisive goals against Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Inter Milan. And he has now scored the winner in a Coppa Italia final. Morata tired of speculation Alvaro Morata admits he is tired of speculation linking him with a return to Real Madrid. It is likely to be his last contribution for Juventus. Real Madrid have the option to activate a buy-back clause to take the striker back to the Bernabeu this summer, but the strongest interest appears to have come from Arsenal. This week the 23-year-old revealed he has received tempting offers from England, and newspaper reports put him at the top of Arsene Wengers wishlist. Watch Alvaro Moratas winning goal in the Coppa Italia final So is he the answer to Arsenals striker conundrum? Morata seems to think so. I think my characteristics mean the Premier League would be a great destination, he told Spanish newspaper AS after his call-up for the Euros. His pace and technical skill are certainly well-suited to Arsenal, and his clinical winner at the Stadio Olimpico last Saturday was a timely reminder of his finishing ability - as was his double for Spain against South Korea on Wednesday.But perhaps his next comment was more revealing. With what I have learned in Italy, if I have the chance to learn something more in England I think it would make me a more complete player, he said. By his own admission, Morata is still learning. His big-game heroics have raised his profile and sent his price-tag north of £30m, but they mask modest experience and an unremarkable overall scoring record. Morata tempted by PL Arsenal target Alvaro Morata admits he is tempted by a move to the Premier League. Since his debut in 2010, Morata has made just 35 La Liga and Serie A starts with Real Madrid and Juventus, and he has never reached double figures for goals in a single league campaign.dddddddddddd Last year he found himself behind Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente in Allegris pecking order. This year it was Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic.Moratas total of 12 goals in 47 appearances in 2015/16 came at a rate of one every 196 minutes. Its a long way short of the elite, and while the much-maligned Olivier Giroud might not be the striker to take Arsenal to the next level, he did at least average a goal every 140 minutes. Morata v Giroud 2015/16 Player Mins played Goals Mins per goal Alvaro Morata 2348 12 196 Olivier Giroud 3360 24 140 It highlights the scale of what is expected at the Emirates Stadium. No Arsenal striker has hit over 20 Premier League goals since Robin van Persie in 2011/12, and Wenger has made pointed references to the issue in recent months. We dont have anybody with 20 goals in the league, so that is a handicap, he told Sky Sports in April.It raises questions of Moratas suitability. His potential is considerable and his knack for delivering as an impact player in big games is undoubtedly appealing, but Arsenal have more pressing requirements. The Gunners created more clear-cut chances (88) than any other Premier League side over the course of the season, but their profligacy cost them in games against Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Norwich and West Brom to name a few. Morata will feature for Vicente del Bosques Spain at Euro 2016 Its not just a big-game specialist they need, its a consistent goalscorer. Its less than two months since Wenger pinpointed poor results against the Premier Leagues so-called smaller sides as the reason Arsenal fell short of the title, but Morata would need to drastically increase his output to meet the level the Gunners require.Wenger has always maintained that the pool of ready-made strikers who could instantly improve Arsenal is a shallow one, and he might also point to his proud record for developing striking talent. Nicolas Anelka, Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie have blossomed under his guidance, so why shouldnt Morata be next?It is a reasonable argument, but the real question is whether Arsenal can afford another gamble. Patience is wearing thin at the Emirates Stadium, and supporters have little appetite for another project as Wenger enters the final year of his contract. Arsenal are operating in the here and now. The hero of the Coppa Italia would meet very different expectations in north London. 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