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.In light of the Russia doping scandal, Vizer said that no sanctions were handed to Russian judoka and that clean Russian athletes should have a chance just like other clean athletes from any other country in a statement. Russias President Vladimir Putin is the honorary president of the judo federation.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. Cheap Nike Epic React Flyknit . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. 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MINNEAPOLIS -- A long night could have been a lot shorter for the Cleveland Indians were it not for some mistakes in the field and missed opportunities at the plate.The Indians committed three errors and went 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position during a rain-delayed 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins in 11 innings Saturday.An error by Carlos Santana at first base gave the Twins a run in the seventh inning, and catcher Yan Gomes couldnt handle Joe Colons frantic throw home in the 11th, allowing Joe Mauer to score the winning run from third in the early-morning hours Sunday.When we lose, every loss is tough, Indians manager Terry Francona said. I mean, I dont differentiate them -- besides it being late. Every loss is not fun. We didnt show up to lose.The teams played into the top of the 11th before crew chief Larry Vanover called for the tarp as the rain grew heavier. The game was delayed 2 hours, 5 minutes.Colon (0-1) walked Mauer and gave up a long double to Miguel Sano, then intentionally walked Brian Dozier to load the bases with one out.Max Kepler followed with a comebacker, and Colon reached behind his back and just got a piece of his glove on the ball to knock it down. He scrambled to pick up the ball and throw home, but Gomes let it get by him as Mauer slid home.Gomes was charged with an error on the play.It looked to me like Gomer didnt look it into the glove, Francona said. I didnt think we had a play at first, and instead of taking an out, like a first baseman, just kind of short-armed it a little bit.Santana had three hits to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games. He also drove in two runs.Jason Kipnis added two hits and Erik Gonzalez made his major league debut when he pinch-hit in the eighth inning.But the Indians had runners on second and third with one out in the seventh and came up empty. They also had the potential go-ahead run on third base with one out in the 10th but couldnt get him home.Its a tough loss, but weve got to get back out here early and keep going and try to win this series, Mike Napoli said.SCARY MOMENTThe game stopped for several minutes in the seventh when a young boy sitting just to the right of the Indians dugout was hit in the head by a line drivee off Napolis bat.ddddddddddddNapoli and the rest of the players on the field looked on with concern, but the boy appeared to be in decent shape as the man he was with carried him up the aisle and to the concourse.The boy grabbed his hat and put it back on his head and appeared to be alert and looking around as they exited the seating area.Its a scary thing and when I saw it was a little kid, I wasnt even thinking about baseball, Napoli said. I was just hoping he was all right. Hopefully I can find out his name and see if hes all right and maybe take care of him a little bit.EXORCISING THE DEMONSGomes has gone hitless in his last nine games and is in a 1-for-35 slump. After he went 0 for 4 on Friday night, the Indians conducted an exorcism in the clubhouse, complete with the sacrificing of a store-bought chicken in an effort to get him back on track.The Baseball Gods and Jobu have been very unkind to one of our own, Kipnis wrote on Instagram before posting three videos of the ceremony. So we offer up this ceremony and these sacrifices as peace offerings and gifts! May the hits be plenty!! Roll Tribe!!!Gomes did not start on Saturday, but went 0 for 2 after being inserted as a pinch-hitter in the ninth.TRAINERS ROOMIndians: After playing Friday night in his rehab assignment, OF Michael Brantley was given the day off Saturday. Francona said Brantley wanted to play as he works his way back from a right shoulder injury, but the training staff didnt want to push it too early. He is expected to play again on Sunday. ... RHP Zach McAllister, on the DL since July 7 with right hip discomfort, will start a rehab assignment on Monday.Twins: CF Byron Buxton was in the lineup for a second straight day and manager Paul Molitor said the knee injury that occurred when Buxton crashed into the wall three games before the All-Star break is behind him now.UP NEXTTwins RHP Kyle Gibson (2-5, 5.02 ERA) will face Indians RHP Josh Tomlin (9-2, 3.51) in the series finale. Tomlin has not started since June 6 because of the All-Star break. He gave up eight runs in his last outing against the Tigers. ' ' '